English Grammar Exercises – The future: present continuous, will/shall, going to (I am doing, I will/shall do and I am going to do)

1. Write sentences with going to and the words in brackets.

1   It’s Noah’s birthday next week. (send him a card)

      … I’m going to send him a card. ……..

2   Look at those dark clouds. (rain very soon)

      ………………………………………….

3   John forgot his Mum’s birthday. (be in trouble)

      ………………………………………….

4   This room is a mess. (who / help me tidy up?)

      ………………………………………….

5   Alex and Tony can’t afford to stay in a hotel. (buy a tent)

      ………………………………………….

6   This food is terrible. (not come to this restaurant again)

      ………………………………………….

7   I need to get more exercise. (walk to work from now on)

      ………………………………………….

8   I’m very tired this morning. (have another coffee)

      ………………………………………….

9   We haven’t got enough money for the bus. (how / get home?)

      ………………………………………….

10   I need to leave home very early tomorrow. (buy petrol tonight)

      ………………………………………….

11   My parents dislike flying. (travel to Prague by train)

      ………………………………………….

12   Leila’s phone isn’t working. (contact her?)

      ………………………………………….

2. Choose the correct alternative.

1   The sports club has put up the prices again. I’ll cancel / I’m going to cancel my membership.

2   I’ve talked to my boss, but he’s very unhelpful and won’t do / isn’t going to do anything about the problem.

3   I’ll go / I’m going to go into town this afternoon. Can I get you anything?

4   Will you hold / Are you going to hold this box for a moment while I open the car?

5   I hear the government’s announced they’ll raise / they’re going to raise taxes again.

6   My car won’t start / isn’t going to start. It must be the cold.

7   I’ll start / I’m going to start a new job next week.

8   I’m so sorry I forgot your birthday. Why don’t you come round tomorrow evening and I’ll cook / I’m going to cook you a meal?

9   I took these trousers back to the shop, but they won’t change / aren’t going to change them without a receipt.

10   You look tired. Shall we eat / Are we going to eat early this evening?

11   John’s sold his car. He’ll buy / He’s going to buy a bike, he says.

12   I’ve decided what to do for my holiday. I’ll go / I’m going to go to Morocco.

3. Put the verbs into the correct form: the will/shall future or the going to future.

Mary and Nigel run a sportswear shop together. They are having money problems.

Monday

MARY:        I don’t know what (1) …we’re going to do…… (we / do). We’ve hardly made any money for ages.

NIGEL:        I think we should advertise. We can send out leaflets.

MARY:        Yes. (2) …That’ll probably get…… (That / probably / get) the shop more widely known. But do you think (3) ……………………………. (people / come) here?

NIGEL:        Well, we could try to get more online sales.

MARY:        Yes, we need to improve our website. (4) ……………………………. (I / phone) the designer. And what about advertising on local radio?

NIGEL:        Good idea. (5) ……………………………. (I / phone) them?

MARY:        OK, thanks.

Tuesday

MARY:        We haven’t got enough money to pay for radio advertising and updating the website. I’ve been in touch with the bank. (6) ……………………………. (I / see) a business advisor called William there on Friday.

NIGEL:        (7) ……………………………. (he / help) us to get a loan, do you think?

MARY:        I hope so.

Friday

WILLIAM:   So you want to borrow some money. How do you want to spend it?

MARY:        (8) ……………………………. (We / advertise) on the radio and update our website. We’ve planned it carefully. We only need £10,000.

WILLIAM:   OK. (9) ……………………………. (The bank / lend) you the money. But you must pay us back in three months. Can you do that?

MARY:        (10) ……………………………. (We / do) it, I promise.

WILLIAM:   Now, I just need a few more details, then (11) ……………………………. (I / help) you fill in the necessary forms.

MARY:        Thank you.

WILLIAM:   You’re welcome.

4. Complete the conversations. Use will/shall, going to or the present continuous.

A

ANN:       It just said on the radio that (1) …it’s going to snow ……… .

BILL:        Oh, did it? I (2) …’ll take…… my big coat then.

JOE:         Good idea. So (3) ……………………………. . Come on, Bill. Let’s go.

B

ED:           Jenny’s had her baby.

GAIL:       Really? That’s wonderful! (4) ……………………………. her some flowers.

ED:           (5) ……………………………. her this afternoon at the hospital. (6) ……………………………. them to her for you if you want.

GAIL:       (7) ……………………………. you? Thanks very much. In that case, (8) ……………………………. and buy them right away.

C

CALEB:    I haven’t got a clean shirt. (9) ……………………………. one for me?

MUM:     No, (10) ……………………………. . You’re 18 years old – you can do your own washing!

5. Write what you would say in these situations. Use will/shall, going to or the present continuous.

1   You make your friend a cup of sweet coffee, then she tells you she doesn’t take sugar.

      Offer to make her another one.

      You: … I’m sorry, I’ll make you another one. ……

2   A colleague asks why you’re leaving work early. Explain that you have arranged to meet your grandmother at the airport.

      You: ………………………………………………

3   Your brother lent you some money last week. Promise to pay him back at the weekend.

      You: ………………………………………………

4   Your sister has bought some clothes from a cheap website. You want to buy some too and you’ve asked her several times for the address, but she refuses to tell you. Ask why.

      You: ………………………………………………

5   You failed an exam last year. Since then you’ve been working hard. Tell your teacher it’s because you’re determined not to fail again.

      You: ………………………………………………

6   Your neighbour is playing loud music late at night. You get angry and ask him to turn the volume down.

      You: ………………………………………………

7   You’ve been offered a role in a film and have accepted. Tell your friends about it.

      You: ………………………………………………

8   A friend is telling you about her travel scholarship. Ask her which countries she plans to visit.

      You: ………………………………………………