FUTURE with WILL, GOING TO, PRESENT SIMPLE and CONTINUOUS

To express future time we use different verb forms depending on what we want to say, so
will+ infinitive, going to+ infinitive, the present simple or the present continuous are possible.

Revise the forms and do these exercises to practise

1. Which verb form do you use for…?

1. arrangements ____________________
2. promises ______________________
3. spontaneous decisions _____________________
4. timetables __________________________
5. predictions _________________________
6. intentions __________________________
7. present evidence _______________________

2. Complete the sentences with the correct verb form.

1. Don’t worry! I _______________ (phone) you on your birthday.

2. Peter isn’t studying at all these days. He ________________ (fail) his final exam.
3. When I finish my secondary education, I ______________ (go) to university, no doubt!
4. I’m sorry, but I can’t go to the cinema. I _______________ (take) my brother to his music
lesson this afternoon.
5. My father says he _______________ (give up) smoking, I can’t believe him.
6. According to the weather forecast tomorrow ____________ (be) hot and sunny.
7. Hurry up! The train ____________ (arrive) in three minutes.
8. Mandy and John ________________ (get married) on 25th June.
9. The new TV programme ______________ (start) tonight at 9:30.
10. Put some suntan cream on or you _____________ (get) burnt.
11. I don’t think Tony _____________ (finish) his essay in time.
12. Why don’t you come with us, Susan? We _____________ (meet) Paul at the pub after
dinner.
13. “What _______________ (do) this summer, Alice?” “I don’t know, but I think I
__________ (surf) the Internet to look for special offers.
14. Karen ____________ (fly) to London next Saturday. The plane ____________ (leave) at 3
p.m. and Mary ____________ (wait) for her at London Airport.
15. The sky is so cloudy! It _________________ (rain) cats and dogs.
16. If I don’t pass my exams, my parents _______________ (get) really angry.
17. They _______________ (have) a party to celebrate their wedding anniversary next
Saturday.
18. Be careful! You ______________ (break) the vase.
19. “How long ___________________ (spend) at the gym this evening?” “I’m not sure, maybe
two hours.”
20. What time ____________________ (the birthday party/ begin) next Friday?

3. Choose the most suitable verb form.

1. I’m so tired! I think I ____________ to be right now.

a. ‘ll go b. am going c. am going to go
2. “Can you have dinner with us tomorrow?” “I’m afraid I can’t I _________ tomorrow.
a. am working b. am going to work c. ‘ll work
3. My friends __________ to New York at Christmas, they’ve just booked the holiday.
a. are going to travel b. will travel c. are travelling
4. “What a difficult exercise” “Ok, Mary, I__________ you”
a. ‘ll help b. am helping c. am going to help
5. “It’s very cold in here” “Yes, you’re right, I ___________ the window.”
a. am going to close b. ‘ll close c. am closing
6. The bus ___________ at 7:30 a.m., we mustn’t be late.
a. is leaving b. leaves c. will leave
7. “I’ve got lots of work to do. _____________ (you/make) dinner for me, Kate?”
a. Are you making b. Do you make c. Will you make
8. Our plane ___________ at 10:15 p.m.
a. lands b. is landing c. is going to land

KEY
1. Which verb form do you use for…?

1. arrangements present continuous

2. promises will+ infinitive
3. spontaneous decisions will+ infinitive
4. timetables present simple
5. predictions will+ infinitive
6. intentions going to
7. present evidence going to

2. Complete the sentences with the correct verb form.

1. Don’t worry! I’ll phone (phone) you on your birthday.

2. Peter isn’t studying at all these days. He’s going to fail (fail) his final exam.
3. When I finish my secondary education, I’ll go (go) to university, no doubt!
4. I’m sorry, but I can’t go to the cinema. I’m taking (take) my brother to his music lesson this
afternoon.
5. My father says he’s going to give up (give up) smoking, I can’t believe him.
6. According to the weather forecast tomorrow will be (be) hot and sunny.
7. Hurry up! The train arrives (arrive) in three minutes.
8. Mandy and John are getting married (get married) on 25th June.
9. The new TV programme starts (start) tonight at 9:30.
10. Put some suntan cream on or you’ll get (get) burnt.
11. I don’t think Tony will finish (finish) his essay in time.
12. Why don’t you come with us, Susan? We’re meeting (meet) Paul at the pub after dinner.
13. “What are you going to do (do) this summer, Alice?” “I don’t know, but I think I’ll surf
(surf) the Internet to look for special offers.
14. Karen is flying (fly) to London next Saturday. The plane leaves (leave) at 3 p.m. and Mary
is going to wait/ will wait (wait) for her at London Airport.

15. The sky is so cloudy! It’s going to rain (rain) cats and dogs.
16. If I don’t pass my exams, my parents will get (get) really angry.
17. They’re having (have) a party to celebrate their wedding anniversary next Saturday.
18. Be careful! You’re going to break (break) the vase.
19. “How long are you going to spend (spend) at the gym this evening?” “I’m not sure, maybe
two hours.”
20. What time does the birthday party begin (the birthday party/ begin) next Friday?

3. Choose the most suitable verb form.

1. I’m so tired! I think I ____________ to be right now.

a. ‘ll go b. am going c. am going to go
2. “Can you have dinner with us tomorrow?” “I’m afraid I can’t I _________ tomorrow.
a. am working b. am going to work c. ‘ll work
3. My friends __________ to New York at Christmas, they’ve just booked the holiday.
a. are going to travel b. will travel c. are travelling
4. “What a difficult exercise” “Ok, Mary, I__________ you”
a. ‘ll help b. am helping c. am going to help
5. “It’s very cold in here” “Yes, you’re right, I ___________ the window.”
a. am going to close b. ‘ll close c. am closing
6. The bus ___________ at 7:30 a.m., we mustn’t be late.
a. is leaving b. leaves c. will leave
7. “I’ve got lots of work to do. _____________ (you/make) dinner for me, Kate?”
a. Are you making b. Do you make c. Will you make
8. Our plane ___________ at 10:15 p.m.
a. lands b. is landing c. is going to land