1: Work it Out

There are several ways you can talk about the future in English. Two verbs often used are 'will' and 'going to'. Look at the following pairs of sentences. Can you work out when we use 'will' and when we use 'going to'?

A: I think I'll go to bed now. I'm feeling tired.
B: As my exams are on Friday I've decided I'm going to go to bed earlier this week.
A: Let's see ... I'll have the chicken with pasta sauce I think.
B: I've told my wife I'm going to cook a nice meal tonight to celebrate our anniversary.
A: I'll go to the shop if you want.
B: I can't go out. Paul's going to call me later.

Now try the quiz below to check your ideas.

2: Check Will or Going To

Decide if the missing verbs in the following sentences should be 'will' or 'going to':

1a) Where are you going with dad's tools?
1b) He asked me to get them for him. He put up some pictures in my bedroom.
2a) I've just cooked a lovely apple tart. Who would like a slice?
2b) Great! I have some please.
3a) I've left my wallet at home.
3b) Don't worry. I lend you some money.
4a) So, what are your plans for this morning?
4b) Well, I do some studying and then pop into town to do some shopping.

Well done. When talking about the future we generally use 'will' when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. We use 'going to' to describe something that we have already decided.Try again. When talking about the future we generally use 'will' to talk about the future when we decide to do something at the time of speaking. We use 'going to' to describe something that we have already decided.Your answer has been saved.

3: Sentence Transformation

For each question, complete the second sentence so that it means the same as the first. Use 'will' or 'going to' in your answer.
Use no more than three words.

1. I plan to travel to China this year.
I ........................................ travel to China this year.

2. I might stay in tonight as there's a good film on TV.
I think I ........................................ in tonight as there's a good film on TV.

3. Let me wash up as you cooked dinner.
I ......................................... as you cooked dinner.

4. I've decided to paint the living room a relaxing pale-green colour
I ........................................ paint the living room a relaxing pale-green colour.

5. Tim plans on seeing the doctor later about his bad back.
Tim ........................................ see the doctor later about his bad back.

6. I might call Sarah to see if she wants to go out.
I think I ........................................ Sarah to see if she wants to go out.

!

Study Tip!

To practise 'will' and 'going to' for future reference think what you might be doing over the coming week. For things that are planned, use 'going to'. For anything you decide to do during the exercise use 'I'll'. For example:

I'm going to meet my friends on Saturday.
We're going to go shopping in the city centre.
I think I'll go to bed early tonight.
I think I'll have a break from studying for a while.

Grammar: Will or Going To?

Study Tip!