Home Grammar Future Tenses ExercisesWill vs Going to Exercises

Will vs Going to Exercises

A2-B1 Level

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Question 1

Choose between 'will' and 'going to' based on context. Use will for spontaneous decisions, predictions without evidence, and promises. Use going to for pre-planned actions and predictions with evidence.

I've been thinking about this for weeks. I (quit) my job and travel.

Grammar review

Ask two questions. Was the decision made before speaking? Can you see evidence now? If the answer to either is yes, use going to. Use will for a decision made now, an offer, a promise or an opinion about the future.

This is the test I use with students because it makes you read the situation, not hunt for one magic word. Real conversations sometimes allow both forms. In this exercise, choose the form that best matches the clue you are given.

Quick Rule

will + base verb: decision now/opinion | be going to + base verb: prior plan/evidence

1.I've booked the tickets. We're going to fly on Friday. (prior plan)
2.The phone is ringing. I'll answer it. (decision now)
3.Look at those clouds. It's going to rain. (evidence now)

💡 Tips for Success

•WILL = spontaneous decision (just decided NOW), promise, prediction without evidence
•GOING TO = pre-planned (decided BEFORE now), prediction with present evidence
•Look for time markers: 'yesterday', 'last week', 'already' signal pre-planning (going to)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use both "will" and "going to" for predictions?

Sometimes. "I think it will rain" gives an opinion; "It's going to rain" usually points to evidence you can see now. Context matters, so do not treat the distinction as an absolute rule outside a controlled exercise.