English Grammar Exercises – Verbs and Tenses: The future

Read the note to find out why.

1

a   ‘ll rain     rains       -> H

b   ‘ll babysit     ‘s babysitting      -> C

c   stopping      going to stop      -> A

d   is landing     lands      -> D

e   is winning     will win/’s going to win       -> F, B

f   ‘ll have      ‘s going to have       -> B

g   is going to      will       -> F

h   ‘ll go      ‘m going (to go)       -> A

2

a   will win      -> F

b   will you be      -> G

c   ‘s going to rain      -> B

d   ‘m going to buy      -> A

e   ‘s going to be      -> B

f   will fall      -> G

g   starts      -> D

h   ‘m going to visit      -> A

i   ‘II call      -> H

j   ‘ll help      -> E

3

a   I’ll take

b   is going to

c   She’ll break

d   ‘s going to

e   We’re going out

f   you’ll fail

g   going to start

h   I’ll be

i   starts

j   are getting married

4            

a   B      b   B      c  A      d  A      e  B

A

Use going to to talk about general plans you’ve already made for the future.

B

Use going to to make a prediction about the future based on something you know or can see now.

C

Use the present continuous to talk about fixed plans and arrangements you’ve made for the future, especially when you mention a time or place.

D

Use the present simple to talk about timetabled or scheduled events.

E

Use will to make a decision at the moment you speak.

F

Use will (‘II) and won’t to say what you think or guess will happen in the future.

G

Use will (‘II) and won’t to talk about future facts, or to ask questions about the future.

H

Use will to talk about future possibilities in first conditional sentences. Use the present tense in the if clause and will or won’t in the other clause.

The future

Present simple and continuous

–  You use the present simple to talk about official fixed timetables and scheduled events, e.g. train timetables, TV programmes, cinema schedules, etc. You use the present continuous to talk about personal plans and arrangements you’ve made for the future. Often you mention the time or place.

   Spiderman starts at 17.70.     When does the coach arrive in Bristol?

   I’m meeting my brother at ten. (That’s what we arranged.)

Going to and will

–   You use going to to talk about general plans you’ve already made for the future. You also use going to to make logical predictions about the future based on things you know or can see now.

     We’re going to watch the match.     She’s pregnant. She’s going to have a baby.

–   You can also ask questions with going to when you think that the person you’re talking to probably knows the answer.

    What are you going to say to Sheila? (I expect you’ve thought about it.)

Note: Sometimes it doesn’t matter whether you use the present continuous or going to. The meaning is the same. If you’re in doubt, use going to.

I’m going to travel by coach to London.      I’m travelling by coach to London.

–   You use will (‘ll) to make a decision at the moment you speak. Often you’re offering to do something for someone.

    I’ll come with you.     I’ll get you a cup of coffee.     Pete will help you.

–   You use will (‘II) and won’t to say what you think or to make a guess about the future. You can also use will (‘II) and won’t to talk about future facts.

     You won’t be at school next week.   You’ll be on holiday.    I’ll be 27 soon.

     Baker will score the first goal. (That’s what I think.)

     The dog will eat the biscuits. (That’s what I guess. He’s done it before.)

–   You can also use will to ask questions about the future when you aren’t sure whether the person you’re talking to knows the answer.

     Do you think Ben will marry Jill? (What’s your opinion?)

Note: Sometimes it’s possible to use either going to or will with only a very small difference in meaning. If you’re in doubt, follow the rules above.