English grammar quiz
Quiz: will vs going to
Both talk about the future, but they mean different things. Did you just decide, or is it a plan? An opinion or a prediction based on evidence? 12 questions with explanations.
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- Level A2–B1
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Quiz: Will vs going to
Choose the right option — you’ll instantly see if you got it and why. Your score comes after the last question.
Question 1.
Look at those black clouds! It (blank) rain.
Choose the right option
A prediction based on what we can see now (black clouds) takes going to: It’s going to rain.
Question 2.
“We’ve run out of milk.” — “Really? I (blank) buy some on my way home.”
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A decision made at the moment of speaking (we’ve just learnt there’s no milk) takes will: I’ll buy some.
Question 3.
“Why are you buying paint?” — “I (blank) paint my bedroom.”
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A plan decided before now (the paint is already being bought) takes going to: I’m going to paint my bedroom.
Question 4.
That bag looks heavy. I (blank) carry it for you.
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An offer of help made on the spot takes will: I’ll carry it for you. Going to without am is always wrong.
Question 5.
(blank) open the window, please? It’s hot in here.
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A request takes will: Will you open the window, please? Are you going to…? asks about plans, it isn’t a request.
Question 6.
I’ve made up my mind: I (blank) learn Spanish next year.
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I’ve made up my mind shows the decision was made earlier — it’s an intention, so going to.
Question 7.
“What are your plans for the summer?” — “We (blank) travel around Italy. We’ve already bought the tickets.”
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Plans with something already done about them (tickets bought) take going to.
Question 8.
“The printer isn’t working.” — “Don’t worry, I (blank) have a look at it.”
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The speaker decides to help the moment they hear about the problem: I’ll have a look at it.
Question 9.
I promise I (blank) tell anyone your secret.
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Promises, threats and reassurances take will / won’t: I promise I won’t tell anyone.
Question 10.
It’s 4–0 and there are only two minutes left. We (blank) win!
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At 4–0 with two minutes left the result is clear from the evidence, so going to (like clouds before rain).
Question 11.
I don’t think it (blank) snow tomorrow.
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Opinions about the future after I think / I don’t think / probably usually take will. Is going without to is wrong.
Question 12.
“Why have you got your coat on?” — “I (blank) go for a walk.”
Choose the right option
The coat is already on, so the decision was made earlier: going to. Will would sound like a decision made just now.
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Take the level testWill vs going to: the rule
What matters is when you made the decision: just now or before.
Will: decided just now
Spontaneous decisions, offers of help, promises, requests. Form: will + V1, negative won’t.
“I’m cold.” — “I’ll close the window.”
decision at the moment of speaking
I promise I won’t be late.
a promise
Going to: planned before
An intention you had before the conversation. Form: am / is / are going to + V1.
I’m going to learn to drive this year.
a plan
We’re going to move to Lviv.
already decided
Predictions: opinion or evidence
An opinion about the future (I think, probably, I’m sure) takes will. A prediction from what we can see now takes going to.
I think you’ll love this film.
opinion
Look at the sky! It’s going to snow.
evidence
Typical mistakes
Things learners of English often say. On the left — what to avoid, on the right — the correct version.
Not this:
I going to call her.This: I’m going to call her.
You need am / is / are.
Not this:
I will to help you.This: I will help you.
No to after will.
Not this:
If it will rain, we’ll stay home.This: If it rains, we’ll stay home.
After if, the future takes the Present Simple.
Not this:
“The phone’s ringing.” — “I’m going to answer it.”This: “The phone’s ringing.” — “I’ll answer it.”
A decision made now: will.
FAQ
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What’s the main difference between will and going to?
When the decision was made. Will: you decide now, while speaking — I’ll have the soup. Going to: you decided earlier, it’s a plan — I’m going to have the soup, I’ve been thinking about it all day.
When are both correct?
For predictions you can often use either: It will be hot tomorrow / It’s going to be hot tomorrow. The difference is subtle: going to when there’s clear evidence, will for a personal opinion. In tests look for clues: I think, probably — will; Look! and visible facts — going to.
What about the Present Continuous for the future?
Use it for arrangements with a time, place or tickets: I’m meeting Anna at 7. It’s even more fixed than going to. For timetables (trains, classes) use the Present Simple: The train leaves at 8.
What does gonna mean?
It’s the informal spoken form of going to: I’m gonna call you. Fine in speech and messages, but not in formal letters, essays or exams.
More grammar quizzes
- A1
There is / there are
There is or there are: singular, plural, questions and the past.
- A1–A2
Present Simple vs Present Continuous
I work or I’m working: habits and facts vs what’s happening right now.
- A1–B1
Articles a, an, the
A, an, the or no article: from a / an to countries, rivers and mountains.
- A1–A2
Much, many, a lot of
Much or many, a few or a little: countable and uncountable nouns.
- A1–A2
Prepositions in, on, at
In May, on Monday, at 5 o’clock: prepositions of time and place.
- A1–A2
Comparatives and superlatives
Bigger, the biggest, more interesting: rules and exceptions.
- A1–A2
Question forms
Do / does / did, word order, subject questions and question tags.
- A2–B1
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
I have seen or I saw: experience and results vs the finished past.
- A2–B2
Modal verbs
Can, must, should, might: obligation, advice, possibility, deduction.
- A2–B1
Present tenses
All four: Present Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous in one quiz.
- A2–B2
Past tenses
Past Simple, Continuous, Perfect and Perfect Continuous: what happened, what was going on, what came first.
- A2–B2
Future tenses
Will, going to, Present Continuous, Future Continuous and Future Perfect: how to talk about the future.
- A2–B2
Passive voice
Be + past participle in every tense: is made, was built, has been sold.
- B1–B2
Gerund or infinitive
Enjoy doing, want to do, stop doing or stop to do.
- B1–B2
Conditionals
Zero, first, second, third and mixed: if I have, if I had, if I had had.
- B1–B2
I wish and if only
I wish I knew, I wish I had known, I wish you would stop.
- B1–B2
Reported speech
She said she was tired: tense changes, said or told, questions.
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