Day 3 Activity: Will vs Going To (Future Tense)
IELTS with Mujahid | Beginner level | Works on phone, tablet and laptop
Why this matters. English has several ways to talk about the future, and will and going to are the two most common. Many learners use only will, but examiners like to see that you can choose the right form for the meaning. Will is used for instant decisions, offers, promises and opinions about the future, such as “I think technology will change education”. Going to is used for plans you decided before speaking and for predictions based on evidence you can see now, such as “Look at those clouds, it is going to rain”. In the earlier lesson you learned that the present continuous can also show arranged plans, so now you can compare three future forms. You also studied subordinating conjunctions, and you will see that if clauses have a special rule with will. Subject-verb agreement matters for going to, because we say I am, he is and they are before going to. In Speaking Part 3 and Writing Task 2, you must talk about the future all the time, so this lesson gives you a direct score advantage. Learn the meaning test below, and you will choose correctly with confidence.
Self-learning step: Open Google and search “will vs going to future tense examples”. Read one page for five minutes, then come back and try the activities.
| Form | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| will + base verb | Instant decision, offer, promise, opinion or prediction | I will help you. I think it will rain. |
| am / is / are going to + base verb | Plan decided before, or prediction from evidence | I am going to study medicine. Look! It is going to rain. |
I think, I believe, probably, perhaps, maybe, I promise, in the future
I have decided, already, plan, intend, Look!, evidence
I will not (won’t) go. She is not going to go.
Will you help me? Are you going to study abroad?
Activity 1: Which meaning?
Tap the meaning of each future sentence.
Activity 2: Will or going to?
Choose the form that fits the situation.
Activity 3: Complete the form
Choose the correct word to complete each future structure.
Activity 4: Spot the correct sentence
Two sentences, one is correct. These are real learner mistakes.
Activity 5: Future word detective
Tap the word will, or the word going, wherever it shows the future. Then press Check to see the meaning.
Activity 6: The future in Speaking and Writing
Choose the best answer for IELTS style future sentences.
Activity 7: Write it yourself
Use the lines below. Write in your own words, then tick the checklist.
Excellent work. You can now talk about the future with the right form every time. Keep practicing at www.goatguruenglish.com
IELTS with Mujahid | www.goatguruenglish.com