FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

WILL VERSUS BE GOING TO

To express a PREDICTION either WILL or BE
GOING TO is used:
(a)
According to the When the speaker is
weather report, it will be making a prediction (a
cloudy tomorrow.
statement
about
(b)
According to the something s/he thinks will
weather report, it is be true or will occur in
going to be cloudy the future), either will or
tomorrow.
be going to is possible.
(c)
Be careful! Youll There is no difference in
hurt yourself!
meaning between (a) and
(d)
Watch
out! (b).
Youre going to hurt There is no difference in
yourself!
meaning between (c) and
(d).
To express a PRIOR PLAN only BE GOING TO is
used:
(e)
A: why did you When the speaker is
buy this paint?
expressing a prior plan
B: Im going to (something the speaker
paint
my
bedroom intends to do in the
tomorrow.
future because in the
past s/he has made a
plan or decision to do it),
only be going to is used.
In (e): Speaker B has
made a prior plan. She
(f)
I talked to Bob decided to paint her
yesterday. He is tired of bedroom last week. She
taking the bus to work. intends to paint her
Hes going to buy a car. bedroom tomorrow.
Thats what he told me.
In (f): the speaker knows
bobs intention to buy a
car.
Bob
made
the
decision in the past and
Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

he intends to act on this

decision in the future.
Will is not appropriate in
(e) and (f).
To express WILLINGNESS only WILL is used:
(g)
A: The phones In (g): speaker B is
ringing.
saying: I am willing, I am
B: Ill get it.
happy to get the phone.
He is not making a
prediction. He has made
no prior plan to answer
the phone. He is, instead,
(h)
A:
I
dont volunteering to answer
understand this problem. the phone and uses will
B: Ask your to show his willingness.
teacher about it. Shell In (h): Speaker B feels
help you.
sure about the teachers
willingness to help.
Be going to is not
appropriate in (g) and (h).
Exercise: Use WILL and/or BE GOING TO with the
verb in parentheses.
PART I: EXPRESSING PREDICTIONS
1. Sue (graduate) will graduate / is going to
graduate in June. After that, she (begin) will begin
/ is going to begin work at an electronics firm.
2. Fred
(be)

at the meeting tomorrow. I think

Jane
(come)

. too.
3. A: Can you give Ed a message for me?
Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

B: Sure: I (see, probably)

. him at the meeting this evening.

4. The damage we do to our environment today
(affect)

..
the
quality of life of future generations.
5. A:
Mr.
Swan
(be,
not)

.. here next term. He has resigned. Who

(be)

. the new teacher? Do you know?

B: Yes. Mary Jefferson (teach)

the same courses Mr. Swan taught:

English,
algebra,
and
geometry.
I
(be)
.
.. in her algebra
class. Do you know which algebra class you (be)
. in
next term?
PART II: EXPRESSING PRIOR PLAN Vs.
WILLINGNESS:
Use be going to if you think the speaker is
expressing a prior plan. If you think there is no prior
plan, use will.
6. A: This letter is in French, and I dont speak a
word of French. Can you help me?
B: Sure. I (translate) will translate it for you.
7. A: Do you want to go shopping with me? I (go)
am going to go to the shopping mall downtown.
B: Sure. What time do you want to leave?
8. A: this light doesnt work. The bulb is probably
burned out. Where are the new light bulbs?
Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

B:
I
(get)
. one for
you.
9. A: Its cold in here.
B:
I
agree.
I
(turn)

the heater on.

A: Thats a good idea.
10.
A:
I
(enrol)

.. in the community college next spring.

B: Oh? I didnt know you wanted to go back to
school.
A: I need to sharpen my skills so I can get a
better job. I (take) ..
. a course in word
processing.
11.
A: Brrr. Who turned up the air conditioner?
Its really cold in here. My nose is cold and my
fingers are cold.
B:
I
(make)
.
you a hot cup of tea.
A: Thanks. That sounds good.
12.
A: Oh, oh! Ive spilled coffee on my shirt.
B:
Just
a
minute.
I
(get)
a damp
cloth for you.
13.
A: What do you want to be when you grow
up?
B: I (be) an
astronaut.
A: Good for you!
14.
A: Do you mind if I turn the TV off? I (place)

.
.
A
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FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

long distance call, and its hard to hear if the TV is

on.
B: No, thats fine. I wasnt watching it anyway.
15.
A: Who wants to erase the board? Are there
any volunteers?
B:
I
(do)
it!
C:
I
(do)
it!
D:
No,
no!
I
(do) .....................................................................
it!
16.
A: why do you have an eraser in your hand?
B:
I
(erase)

the board.

MORE EXERCISES
1. In this exercise you have to complete the
sentences with Ill + a suitable verb.
Example: Im too tired to walk home. I think Ill get a
taxi.
o I
feel
a
bit
hungry.
I
think
something to eat.
o Its too late to telephone Tom now.
him in
the morning.
o Its a bit cold in this room. Is it?

. on the heating then.

o We havent got any cigarettes. Oh, havent
we?

.. and get some.

Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

o Did you write that letter to Jack? Oh, I forgot.

Thanks
for
reminding
me.

it this evening.
o Would
you
like
tea
or
coffee?

coffee, please.
2. Now you have to use I think Ill or I dont
think Ill . Read the situation and then write
your sentence.
Examples: Its cold. You decide to close the window.
I think Ill close the window.
Its raining. You decide not to go out. I
dont think Ill go out.
o You feel tired. You decide to go to bed. - I
.
o A friend of yours offers you a lift in his car but
you decide to walk. Thank you but

..
o You arranged to play tennis. Now you decide
that you dont want to play. - ..

.
o You were going to go swimming. Now you
decide that you dont want to go.

3. Now you have to offer to do things. Tom has a

lot of things to do and in each case you offer to
do them for him.
Example: Tom: Oh, I must do the washing-up. You:
No, its all right. Ill do the washing-up.
Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

o Tom: Oh, I must get the dinner ready.

You: No,
its
all
right.
I

o Tom: Oh, I must do the shopping.

You: No,

o Tom: Oh, I must water the plants.

You:

4. This time you have to agree and promise to do

things.
Example: A: Can you clean the windows? B: Sure,
Ill clean them this afternoon.
A: Do you promise? B: Yes, I promise Ill
clean them this afternoon.
o A: Can you phone me later?
B: Sure,
. tonight.
A:
Do
you
promise?
B:
Yes,

o A: Can you repair the clock?

B: Okay,
. tomorrow.
A: Do .?
B:

.
o A: Please dont tell anyone. B: All right, I wont
tell anyone.
A:
?
B:

..
o A: Please dont hurt me.
B: Dont worry,
..
A:
..?
B:

Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

5. Decide which form of the verb is correct (or

more natural) in these sentences. Cross out the
one which is wrong.
Example: Tom isnt free on Saturday. He will work / is
working.
o I will go / am going to a party tomorrow night.
Would you like to come too?
o According to the weather forecast it will rain / is
raining tomorrow.
o Im sure Tom will get / is getting the job. He has
a lot of experience.
o I cant meet you this evening. A friend of mine
will come / is coming to see me.
o A: Have you decided where to go for your
holidays yet?
B: Yes, we will go / are going to Italy.
o Dont worry about the dog. It wont hurt / isnt
hurting you.
6. Answer these questions using the words in
brackets.
Example: When do you think hell arrive?
(expect/tonight) I expect hell arrive tonight.
o What do you think shell say? (probably /
nothing)

.
o Where do you think shell go? (expect/London)

..
o When
do
you
think
shell
leave?
(think/tomorrow)

Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

..
o How do you think shell go there? (expect/by
train)

..
o When do you think shell be back? (think/quite
soon)
.

o Do you think youll miss her? (Im sure/very

much)
Yes,

..
7. Now you have to read a situation and then write
a sentence with shall I? In each situation you
are talking to a friend.
Example: Its very hot in the room. The window is
shut. Shall I open the window?
o Youve just tried on a jacket in a shop. You are
not sure whether to buy it or not. Ask your
friend
for
advice.

o Youre going out. Its possible that it will rain

and youre not sure whether to take an
umbrella or not. Ask your friend for advice.

.
o Its Anns birthday soon and you dont know
what to give her. Ask your friend for advice.
What
Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

...
o Your friend wants you to phone him/her later.
You dont know what time to phone. Ask
him/her.
What

8. This time you have to make sentences with

shall we?
Example: You and your friend havent decided what
to do this evening. You say: What shall we do this
evening?
o You and your friend havent decided where to
go for your holidays. You say: Where

..
o You and your friend havent decided what to
have
for
dinner.
You
say:

..
o You and your friend are going out. You havent
decided whether to go by car or to walk. You
say:

or .. ..
9. In this exercise you have to put the verb into
the correct form using will or going to.
Examples: A: Why are you turning on the television?
B: Im going to watch (watch) the news.
any money.

A: Oh, Ive just realised I havent got

B: Dont worry thats no problem. Ill

lend (lend) you some
Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

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FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

Those clouds are very black, arent they?

I think it is going to rain (rain).
o A: Ive got a terrible headache.
B:
Have
you?
Wait
there
and
I
. (get) an aspirin for you.
o A: Why are you filling that bucket with water?
B: I .. (wash) the
car.
o A: Ive decided to re-paint this room.
B:
Oh,
have
you?
What
colour

(you/paint) it?
o A: Look! Theres smoke coming out of that
house. Its on fire!
B:
Good
heavens!
I
.. (call) the
fire-brigade immediately.
o A: The ceiling in this room doesnt look very
safe, does it?
B:
No,
it
looks
as
if
it
(fall) down.
o A: Where are you going? Are you going
shopping?
B: Yes, I . (buy)
something for dinner.
o A: I cant work out how to use this camera.
B: Its quite easy. I .
(show) you.
o A: What would you like to drink tea or coffee?
B: I . (have) tea,
please.
o A: Has George decided on what to do when he
leaves school?
B: Oh yes. Everything is planned. He

Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

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FUTURO CON WILL O GOING TO

o
o

(have) a holiday for a few weeks and then he

. (start)
a computer programming course.
A: Did you post that letter for me?
B: Oh, Im sorry. I completely forgot. I
. (do) it now.
A: What shall we have for dinner?
B: I dont know. I cant make up my mind.
A: Come on, hurry up! Make a decision!
B:
Okay
then.
We
. (have) chicken.
Jack: We need some bread for lunch.
Ben:
Oh,
do
we?
I
(go) to the shop
and get some. I feel like a walk.
Before he foes out, Ben talks to Jane:
Ben: I . (get)
some bread. Do you want anything from the
shop?
Jane: Yes, I need some envelopes.
Ben: Okay, I . (get)
you some.
John has to go to the airport to catch a plane.
He hasnt got a car:
John: Alan, can you take me to the airport this
evening?
Alan: Of course I .
(take) you. Id be delighted.
Later that day Eric offers to take John to the
airport.
Eric: John, do you want me to take you to the
airport?
John:
No
thanks,
Eric.
Alan
.. (take) me.

Profesora: Eva Mara Ortiz Egea

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