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Pick TwoActivity

Will vs going to: explanation and exercises

A2Updated 2026-09-216 exercises

Both will and be going to talk about the future, but they are not interchangeable. Going to is for plans already made and for predictions based on evidence you can see. Will is for decisions made at the moment of speaking, promises, offers and opinions about the future.

How it is formed

Going to

I am going to visit my grandparents.

It is going to rain.

Will

I will help you with that.

I think she will pass.

Negative

We aren’t going to stay.

He won’t come.

When to use it

  • Going to: plans and intentions decided before now.
  • Going to: predictions from present evidence (Look at those clouds).
  • Will: spontaneous decisions, offers and promises.
  • Will: predictions from opinion (I think it will be a good year).

Common mistakes

  • Not thisWait, I am going to help you!

    Say thisWait, I will help you!

    A decision made on the spot uses will.

  • Not thisI will visit my aunt tomorrow. (already planned)

    Say thisI am going to visit my aunt tomorrow.

    An existing plan is more natural with going to.

  • Not thisShe will to come.

    Say thisShe will come.

    Will is followed by the bare verb, without to.

Tips for teaching it

  • Set up a mini role play: a friend says “I’m thirsty” (spontaneous will) and “I’ve bought tickets” (planned going to).
  • Teach the trigger question: was the decision already made before you spoke?
  • Do not force a hard line between the two for A2 students; in many contexts both are acceptable.

Practice: will vs going to exercises

Try these exercises. Answers are checked in your browser and never sent to us. Teachers can share this page with a class as it is.

1Complete the sentence.

Look at those clouds. Itrain.

2Complete the sentence.

I’m cold. I think Iclose the window.

3Complete the sentence.

Wevisit my grandparents this weekend. It’s already planned.

4Complete the sentence.

Don’t worry. Icall you tomorrow.

I’ve bought the tickets. We ___ to Rome next week.

Which sentence is a promise?

Frequently asked questions

Can I use the present continuous for the future too?

Yes, for fixed arrangements: I am seeing the dentist on Tuesday. It sounds a little more arranged than going to.

Is will the same as shall?

Shall is mostly used in questions with I and we (Shall we go?) and is rare elsewhere in modern American English.