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Will vs going to: decided before or right now? Will and going to exercises for A2 students

This A2 drill lesson gives will vs going to exercises: going to for plans and for what you can see coming, will for decisions made now, offers and promises.

Grammar
Be going to and will + base verb, the clues that decide between them (I bought…, Look!, Don't worry, I promise), negatives, questions and short answers.
Topic
Roz's surprise 50th birthday party: the family's secret group chat, an invitation email, the minutes before she walks in and her post the next day.
Activities
Gap-fills, choices, sorting, drag-and-drop texts, matching, a memory game, word order, quizzes, tables and Linus's chat, all self-checking.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1The rule

    • PictureUnlock
    • Study the scheme: will or going to?Grammar schemeTry it
    • Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Sort the sentences: going to or will?Sort into columnsTry it
    • Choose will or going toChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Decided before or right now?

    • Fill in the gaps with will or going to: plans and offersFill in the gapsTry it
    • Choose the right form: a plan or a decision now?Choose the optionUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Match the sentences and the repliesMatchUnlock
    • Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Choose the best replyQuizUnlock
    • Read Joaquin's message and fill in the gaps with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Look out! I'll help!

    • Choose the right form: look, help, promiseChoose the optionTry it
    • Fill in the gaps with will or going to: look and helpFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: what's going to happen?Memory gameUnlock
    • Read the picnic dialogue and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Negatives, questions and short answers

    • Fill in the gaps: negatives with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Fill in the table: positive, negative, questionFill in the tableTry it
    • Choose the right short answerChoose the optionUnlock
    • Choose the right question for each answerQuizUnlock
    • Put the words in order to make questionsUnjumbleUnlock
    • Write the questions with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Real life: The surprise party

    • Read the family group chatReal-life documentUnlock
    • Read the chat again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
    • Read Delphine's email and fill in the gaps with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the right replies: Linus texts youChatTry it
    • Read what Cosima and Linus say on Saturday and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Read Roz's post and fill in the gaps with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Choose will or going to: everyday lifeChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with will or going to: at homeFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Sort the sentences: why going to? why will?Sort into columnsUnlock
    • Match the beginnings and the endingsMatchUnlock
    • Put the words in the right order: plans and promisesUnjumbleUnlock
    • Fill in the table: will and going toFill in the tableUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: more negatives with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the right form: questions and short answersChoose the optionUnlock
    • Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: will or going toDrag and dropUnlock
    • Write more questions with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: the problem and the offerMemory gameUnlock
    • Choose the right reply: plans and offersQuizUnlock
    • Read Quentin's email and fill in the gaps with will or going toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Read the note on the fridge and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock

47 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Grammar: will vs going to

Both forms talk about the future; what matters is when the speaker decided. Going to is for plans made before now and for things you can see coming, and will is for decisions made while you speak, offers and promises. In every item that asks for a choice, a clue in the sentence shows which one fits.

Will vs going to: decided before or right now?

Going to: plans you made before and things you can see now. Will: decisions you make now, offers and promises.

The forms of will and be going to

Will is the same for every person: I'll call, she won't call, Will they call? Going to needs am, is or are: She's going to buy it. Short answers repeat the question's helper: Are you…? – Yes, I am. Will you…? – Yes, I will.

The forms

Formbe going to + base verbwill + base verb
Positive (+)I'm · you're · he's · she's · it's · we're · they're going to call.I / you / he / she / it / we / they will ('ll) call.
Negative (−)I'm not · he / she / it isn't · you / we / they aren't going to call.I / you / he / she / it / we / they won't (will not) call.
Question (?)Am I · Is he / she / it · Are you / we / they going to call?Will I / you / he / she / it / we / they call?
Short answersYes, I am. · No, she isn't. · Yes, they are.Yes, I will. · No, she won't. · Yes, they will.

Forms: don't mix them

will + base verb: I'll help you. (Not: I will to help. I will helping.) am / is / are + going to + base verb: She's going to buy it. (Not: She going to buy. She's go to buy. She's going to buys.) Short answers match the question: Are you going to…? Yes, I am. Will you…? Yes, I will.

Plan, evidence, decision, offer or promise

Going to: a plan (We booked a hotel. We're going to stay in Boston.) or evidence (Look at the sky! It's going to snow.). Will: a decision now (The doorbell! I'll get it.), an offer or a promise. With I think, both are fine, though will is more common.

When do we use them?

SituationUseExample
A plan: you decided before nowgoing toWe booked a hotel. We're going to stay in Boston.
Evidence: you can see it nowgoing toLook at the sky! It's going to snow.
A decision now, while you speakwillOh, the doorbell! I'll get it.
An offer: you want to helpwillYou look tired. I'll make dinner.
A promisewillI'll call you every day. I promise!
An opinion: I think…, I'm sure…will (going to is OK too)I think you'll like this movie.

Opinions: both are OK

With I think, I'm sure and maybe, will is more common, but going to is OK too: I think you'll love it. = I think you're going to love it. In the exercises, look for the clue: a plan from before? Something you can see? A decision now, an offer or a promise?

Look for the clue

A past-simple sentence such as I bought… or We decided…, a question like Why are you wearing…?, or Look! points to going to. Oh!, Don't worry, Sure! and I promise point to will: the speaker reacts, offers help or promises.

going to

  • I bought… · I booked… · We decided… (before now)
  • Why do you have…? · Why are you wearing…?
  • Look! · Look at… · Watch out! (you can see it)

will

  • Oh! · Really? · OK… · Hmm… (you decide now)
  • Don't worry. · Wait! · Sure! (you offer help)
  • I promise! (a promise)

Common mistakes

The scheme corrects The phone's ringing. I'm going to answer it to I'll answer it, a decision made now, and I bought the paint. I'll paint my room to going to, a plan made earlier. Never use both at once: I will going to call is wrong.

  • The phone's ringing. I'm going to answer it.

    The phone's ringing. I'll answer it.

    you decide now: will

  • I bought the paint. I'll paint my room on Sunday.

    I bought the paint. I'm going to paint my room on Sunday.

    a plan from before: going to

  • Look at those clouds! It will rain.

    Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.

    you can see it now: going to

  • I will going to call you.

    I'll call you. · I'm going to call you.

    will or going to, never both

Examples

  • Mia bought a tent. She's going to go camping.a plan
  • Watch out! That box is going to fall.evidence
  • There's no milk? OK, I'll buy some.a decision now
  • Sit down. I'll make you a cup of tea.an offer
  • I won't forget your birthday again. I promise!a promise
  • Are you going to invite Sam? Yes, I am.a question about a plan

More lessons on this grammar: Future tenses lessons and exercises

Try the will vs going to exercises

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What's in the lesson

  • 39 auto-checked exercises
  • 5 games
  • 1 real-life document
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • use going to for a plan made before now: Tara bought a plane ticket to Tokyo. She is going to visit her cousin there.
  • use going to for what you can see coming: Look at those gray clouds over the mountains! It is going to snow soon.
  • use will to decide, offer or promise as you speak: The doorbell! Don't get up. I will answer the door. It won't happen again.
  • find the clue that decides: I booked… or Look! for going to; Oh!, Sure! or I promise for will
  • match the short answer to the question: Are you going to watch the game? – Yes, I am. Will you be home for dinner? – Yes, I will.

Will vs going to: decided before or right now? is lesson 16 of 28 in English Grammar Practice · A2, on the future tenses page. Lessons 13 and 14 taught be going to and will one at a time; lesson 15, Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight?, comes right before, and lesson 17, Present perfect: have you ever tried it?, right after. There are no new words to learn, so the lesson slots in next to any course as extra practice.

After the scheme, students check sentences, sort them under going to or will, then choose and type forms. Decided before or right now? sets plans against offers in gap-fills, matching, word order and a best-reply quiz, ending with Joaquin's message to his roommate. Look out! I'll help! covers evidence and help, with a memory game of what's going to happen and a picnic dialogue. Negatives, questions and short answers adds a table of forms. In Real life: The surprise party, students read the family's secret chat, fill in Delphine's email, answer Linus's texts, finish the minutes before Roz walks in and her post, and take a test.

Every one of the 15 homework tasks checks itself: everyday and home situations, a sort into four reasons, matching, word order, a table, more negatives and questions, a memory game of problems and offers, Quentin's email about a move to Lisbon and a note on the fridge.

Grammar:
will vs going to · plans and decisions · offers and promises · predictions with evidence
Topic:
grammar practice · plans · surprise party · the future

Teaching tips

  • Ask for the clue before the answer: in each drill, students first point to the words that decide, such as I booked, Look! or Don't worry, and only then choose will or going to.
  • Stage small problems in class: drop a pile of books, say It's so hot in here! or I can't open this jar!, and students offer help with I'll… Then ask about weekend plans for going to.
  • Describe scenes that are about to happen: a glass on the edge of a table, a dog staring at a burger, a runner just behind the bus. Students say what's going to happen before the memory game in chapter 3.

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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · A2

English Grammar Practice · A2 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the past simple and continuous, used to, comparatives, going to and will, the present perfect, modals, the zero and first conditionals and questions. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

  1. 1Past simple with -ed: moving day!
  2. 2Past simple irregular verbs: we went, we saw, we bought
  3. 3Past simple negatives and questions: where did the cake go?
  4. 4Past continuous: what were you doing at 9 p.m.?
  5. 5Past simple or past continuous: what were you doing when it happened?
  6. 6Used to: how things were back then
  7. 7Comparatives: which one is better?
  8. 8Superlatives: the best in town
  9. 9As … as, too, enough: is it the right size?
  10. 10Adverbs of manner: how did she drive?
  11. 11Much, many, a few, a little: how much do we need?
  12. 12Possessive pronouns: whose is it?
  13. 13Be going to: what's your plan?
  14. 14Will: what will the future bring?
  15. 15Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight?
  16. 16Will vs going to: decided before or right now?
  17. 17Present perfect: have you ever tried it?
  18. 18Just, already, yet: have you done it yet?
  19. 19For and since: how long have you known her?
  20. 20Present perfect or past simple: up to now or finished time?
  21. 21Must and have to: what are the rules?
  22. 22Should: what should I do?
  23. 23Can, could, may: could you help me, please?
  24. 24Verb + to or -ing: what do you enjoy doing?
  25. 25Zero conditional: what happens if…?
  26. 26First conditional: what will you do if it rains?
  27. 27Articles: a, the or no article?
  28. 28Subject and object questions: who won the quiz?

Questions about this lesson

What's the difference between will and going to?
The difference is when you decide. Going to is for a plan you made before (We booked a hotel last month. We're going to stay by the ocean.) and for something you can see coming; will is for deciding as you speak, offering and promising: Your hands are full. I'll open the door. The A2 drill lesson Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai practices the choice in 44 exercises.
When do you use going to?
Use be going to + base verb for intentions and for evidence you can see: My sister found a job in Seattle. She's going to move there in May. Look at that big wave! It's going to hit the boat. A clue like I bought…, We decided…, Why do you have…? or Look! usually shows it. The scheme of Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai lists these clues.
When do you use will?
Use will + base verb for decisions, offers and promises made on the spot: There's no coffee! – Oh, really? I'll buy some after work. You look cold. I'll close the window. I'll never forget you. I promise! Its negative is won't, and it never takes to: I'll help, not I will to help. Chapter 3 of Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai is called Look out! I'll help!
Can you use will and going to for predictions?
Yes, with a difference: what you can see now takes going to (Look at those clouds! It's going to rain.), and an opinion with I think or I'm sure usually takes will, though going to is fine too: I think you'll love it. Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai never lets an opinion decide an item, so every answer has a clear clue.
Is it “I'll answer it” or “I'm going to answer it”?
When the phone rings and you decide that moment, it's I'll answer it: a decision made while speaking takes will. I'm going to answer it is the scheme's example of a common mistake here, because going to means the plan came first. The same scheme corrects Look at those clouds! It will rain to It's going to rain. Both traps appear in the quizzes of Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai.
Are there interactive will vs going to exercises?
Yes: without an account, this page plays five parts of Will vs going to: decided before or right now?, an A2 drill lesson on edio.ai. They are a sort of sentences under going to or will; gaps with plans and offers; a choice for what you see, help and promises; a table of positive, negative and question forms; and Linus's chat before his mom's surprise party. The other 39 exercises need an account.
How do I teach will vs going to to A2 students?
Teach the clue, not just the rule: show that I bought…, We booked… or Look! lead to going to, while Oh!, Don't worry or I promise lead to will. Revise both forms first, since A2 students often meet them in separate lessons. Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai builds from plans and offers to evidence, then negatives and questions, then a surprise party.
What's a good game for practicing will and going to?
Play “Problem and plan”: one student says a problem (I'm hungry!) and a partner answers with an offer (I'll make you a sandwich.); then a student shows a prop, like a ticket or a swimsuit, and the class guesses the plan: You're going to swim! Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai has memory games of evidence and of offers.
What's good homework for will vs going to?
Good homework gives every item a clue to find, in new sentences and short texts. The homework of Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai marks itself: choices and gaps at home and in everyday life, a sort into plans, evidence, offers and promises, a table of forms, Quentin's email about a new job abroad and a note on the fridge from Mom.
How do you practice will and going to one-to-one?
Talk about real plans, then react to problems: the student says what they're going to do this weekend and why (I bought paint, so…), then the teacher names small problems and the student offers help with I'll… The chat in Will vs going to: decided before or right now? on edio.ai works without a partner: the wind takes Linus's balloons, and the right reply is Don't worry. I'll buy some new ones tomorrow.
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