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    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #5591: Will and be going to
    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Future [Change theme]
    > Similar tests: - Future simple - Express the future - Future perfect / Future progressive - When : What tense to put behind... - When + future or not-The very first steps... - Future and Conditional - Simple future tense-will or going to - When: followed by a future? …or not?
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    Will and be going to


    will and be going to

     

    A- We can use either will or be going to to talk about something that is planned, or something that we think is likely to happen in the future:

    è We will study change in a later part of the course, (or We are going to study...)

    è Where will you stay in Berlin? (or Where are you going to stay...?)

    è The south of the city won't be affected by the power cuts, (or ...isn't going to be affected...)

    We often prefer be going to in informal contexts.

     

    B- We use will rather than be going to make a prediction based on our opinion or experience:

    è Why not come over at the week end? The children will enjoy seeing you again.

    è Shall I ask Sandra? No, she won’t want to be disturbed.

     

    We use be going to rather than will when we make a prediction based on some present evidence:

     

    è The sky has gone really dark. There's going to be a storm.

    è What’s the matter with her?' 'It looks like she's going to faint.'

     

    C- To predict the future we often use will with I bet (informal), I expect, I hope, I imagine, I think, I wonder, and I'm sure, and in questions with think and reckon:

     

    è I imagine the stadium will be full for the match on Saturday.
    è That cheese smells awful. I bet nobody will eat it.
    è  Do you reckon he'll say yes?

    è When do you think you’ll finish work?
    Be going to can also be used with these phrases, particularly in informal contexts.

     

    D- We use will when we make a decision at the moment of speaking and be going to for decisions about the future that have already been made. Compare:

     

    è I'll pick him up at 8.00.  (An offer; making an arrangement now)

    è I'm going to collect the children at 8.00. (This was previously arranged)

    è Pineapples are on special offer this week.' 'In that case, I'll buy two.'

    è When I’ve saved up enough money, I’m going to buy a digital camera.

    However, in a formal style, we use will rather than be going to to talk about future events that have been previously arranged in some detail. Compare:

    è Are you going to talk at the meeting tonight?

    è The meeting will begin at 9.00 a.m. Refreshments will be available from 8.30 onwards.

     

    E- We can use will or be going to with little difference in meaning in the main clause of an if-sentence when we say that something (often something negative) is conditional on something else:

     

    è If we go on like this, we’ll/we are going to lose all our money.

    è You’ll/ You are going to knock that glass over if you are not more careful.

    When the future event does not depend on the action described in the if-clause, we use be going to, not will. This kind of sentence is mainly found in spoken English. Compare:

     

    è I'm going to open a bottle of lemonade, if you want some. (= I'm going to open a bottle of lemonade. Do you want some?)

    è I’ll open a bottle of lemonade if you want some. (= If you say you want some, I'll open a bottle.)

     

    However, we use will, not be going to, when the main clause refers to offers, requests, promises, etc. and ability:

     

    è If Jack phones I'll let you know. (= an offer; I’m going to let you know' suggests 'I intend to let you know when Jack phones')

    è If you look to your left, you'll see the lake. (= you'll be able to see; 'you're going to see...' suggests 'I know this is what you can see when you look to your left')

    and when one thing is the logical consequence of another:

    è If you don't switch on the monitor first, the computer won't come on.

     


     Complete the text using the verbs given. Choose will or (be) going to with each verb,

     

    Don’t use contractions

     

     





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    English exercise "Will and be going to" created by felin with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from felin]
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    1. A: I can't come over during the day. B: I you tomorrow evening, then. (see)

    2. The method is quite simple, and I'm sure it familiar to most of you already. (be)

    3. Have you seen Karen recently? She another baby. (have)

    4. A: Did you get the theatre tickets? B: No, I forgot all about them. I them tomorrow. (book)

    5. Wherever you go in Brazil, you the people very friendly. (find)

    6. John says he a politician when he grows up - and he's only 5 years old! (be)

    7. A: Shall I give lan another ring? B: Yes, I expect he home by now. (be)

    8. A: What are all those bricks for? B: I a wall at the side of the garden. (build)

    9. I hear you your car. How much do you want for it? (sell)

    10. Don't carry that heavy box, you your back. (hurt)

    11. I Karen this week end, if you’d like to come too. (see)

    12. If you want to help us, we those trees at the bottom of the garden. (plant)

    13. If you listen carefully, you an owl in the trees over there. (hear)

    14. You can't play football in the garden. I the grass. (cut)










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