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Will vs be going to for Plans and Predictions

Discuss future plans, make predictions, and decisions in the moment.

1. Warm up
Discuss the following with a partner.

1. Who is someone you haven’t seen for a while?

2. When was the last time you saw them? What did you do?

3. What would you like to do the next time you see them?

2. Vocabulary
Photo by Budgeron Bach

A. On your own, tick/check the activities that you would like to do.

…… go bowling …… go to a restaurant …… visit a petting zoo

…… go to the beach …… go rock-climbing …… have a movie night
…… go shopping …… see a local landmark …… go paint-balling
…… visit a museum …… go fishing …… study English more
…… go to the theatre …… watch a sports game ……
…… have a picnic …… go go-karting

B. With a partner, discuss three things you would like to do and one thing you wouldn’t. Give
reasons for your answers.

C. Add an activity that you would like to do together to the list.

3. Reading
A. Read the telephone conversation between friends Kate and Ben.

Kate Hi Ben! I’m so excited for your visit tomorrow. What time will your bus arrive?

Ben It should arrive by 10:30 a.m., but you know what L.A. traffic is like, so a. it will probably be late.
Kate Yes, probably. Is there anything special you would like to do while you’re here?

Ben Well, I ‘d like to go shopping on Rodeo Drive and go to a nice restaurant there. The Los Angeles Dodgers are
playing on Thursday and it would be great to watch the game.

Kate Okay, that sounds good. b. I will get us some tickets for the game.

Ben That’s great! I haven’t seen the Hollywood sign either, so that would be nice to see.

Kate No problem. I checked the forecast. c. The weather is going to be really nice on the weekend, so we can go and
see it then. We can have a picnic if you’d like.

Ben That would be great!

Kate OK... I’ll make some sandwiches. Malia and Kiko are in town on holiday too, so d. they are going to meet us at
Venice Beach on Sunday afternoon for a swim.

Ben I can’t wait! I haven’t seen Malia or Kiko in ages . It’s going to be great!

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 B. Answer the questions about Ben’s visit.

1. Where is Ben visiting? 4. Where are they going to meet their friends?

2. When will he arrive? 5. Which activities from Part 2A does Ben want to do?

3. What will they do on Thursday?

4. Will vs Be going to
A. Review the underlined parts of the conversation in Part 3A and circle the best alternative to
complete the rules. Write (a-d) next to each rule.

1. ______ For plans already decided, use: will / be going to

2. ______ For a decision made in the moment, use: will / be going to

3. ______ For predictions without evidence, use: will / be going to

4. ______ For predictions with evidence, use: will / be going to

B. Complete the following about ‘will’ and ‘be going to’.

1. The negative form of ‘will’ is:

2. The negative forms of ‘be going to’ are:

3. Put parts (a-d) in order to construct a sentence with ‘will’:

a. verb b. will c. object d. subject

+ + +

4. Put parts (a-d) in order to construct a question with ‘will’:

a. verb b. will c. subject d. question word

+ + +

5. Put parts (a-e) in order to construct a question with ‘be going to’:

a. be b. question word c. going to d. subject e. verb

+ + + +

5. Practice
A. Complete the sentences with the correct form of will or be going to.

1. I set my alarm for 6 a.m. We need to leave here at 7:30 a.m. to get the train.

2. Don’t worry. I’m sure your mother be back soon to help with your homework.

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 3. Your father probably call this afternoon, so keep your phone with you.

4. Did you see the forecast? It rain tomorrow, so take your umbrella!

5. I order a pizza tonight, so you don’t need to cook.

B. Put the words in the correct order to make sentences.

1. going / a / I / see / to / tonight / movie / am

2. play / not / this / going / He / to / is / soccer / weekend

3. going / tomorrow / to / She / get / is / haircut / a

4. do / homework / you / this / to / Are / evening? / going

C. Circle the correct alternatives to complete the following.

1. I’m so tired. Will you / Are you going to cook dinner tonight please?

2. I love that dress. Will you / Are you going to wear it tonight?

3. I will / I am going to get a sandwich in the café for lunch. Do you want anything?

4. A Do you know where the car keys are? B No, I will / I am going to ask Dad.

5. It’s his birthday next month, so he will / is going to go to Las Vegas with his friends.

D. Write four sentences about your future plans using ‘be going to’. Two sentences should be
true and two should be false.

1.

2.

3.

4.

E. Read your sentences. Your partner will guess which are true and which are false.

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