English Grammar & Syntax Quiz: Simple Future Will Vs Going To
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Simple Future Will Vs Going ToQuestion 1 of 9

Dark smoke is pouring from the restaurant's kitchen. Elena points to it and says, "That alarm   in a moment." Later, without any new evidence, she adds, "I think the inspectors   the restaurant for several days."

Which pair best distinguishes a prediction based on present evidence from a prediction based mainly on the speaker's judgment?

is going to sound; will close
will sound; are going to close
is going to sound; are going to close
will sound; will close
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English Grammar & Syntax Quiz

English Grammar & Syntax Quiz: Simple Future Will Vs Going To

Practice Simple Future Will Vs Going To in English Grammar & Syntax with focused quiz questions that help you check what you know, review explanations, and build confidence with test-style prompts.

What this quiz covers

This quiz focuses on Simple Future Will Vs Going To, giving you a quick way to practice the rules, question types, and explanations that matter most for English Grammar & Syntax.

How to use this quiz

Try each quiz question before looking at the correct answer. Use the explanations to review missed ideas, then come back to similar questions until the pattern feels familiar.

All questions

Question 1

Dark smoke is pouring from the restaurant's kitchen. Elena points to it and says, "That alarm   in a moment." Later, without any new evidence, she adds, "I think the inspectors   the restaurant for several days."

Which pair best distinguishes a prediction based on present evidence from a prediction based mainly on the speaker's judgment?

  1. is going to sound; will close (correct answer)
  2. will sound; are going to close
  3. is going to sound; are going to close
  4. will sound; will close
Explanation: When choosing between will and be going to, the key distinction is evidence vs. judgment. Use be going to when you have present physical evidence pointing toward an inevitable outcome. Use will when you're making a prediction based on personal belief, opinion, or reasoning alone — with no concrete evidence in the moment. In the passage, Elena sees dark smoke pouring from the kitchen — that's real, visible evidence. A prediction tied to that evidence calls for is going to sound, because the smoke signals the alarm is imminent. Later, with no new evidence, she speculates about inspectors closing the restaurant. That's a judgment call — an opinion about a likely future — which calls for will close. This makes A the correct answer: is going to sound; will close. Choice B reverses the logic entirely — will sound treats the alarm as a mere opinion despite the obvious smoke, and are going to close implies Elena has physical evidence of the closure when she doesn't. Choice C uses be going to for both blanks, ignoring the shift in the passage from evidence-based to judgment-based prediction. Choice D uses will for both, which misses the fact that visible smoke is precisely the kind of present evidence that triggers be going to. A reliable study tip: scan the context for sensory evidence (smoke, flames, storm clouds, body language). If the speaker can see or hear something pointing to the outcome, be going to is almost always correct. If the prediction comes from inside the speaker's head — a hunch, belief, or estimate — reach for will.

Question 2

City officials approved the funding and signed the construction contract last month. The mayor also says, based only on personal opinion, that the completed center   national attention.

Which sentence uses the passive form of going to for the authorized project and will for the mayor's prediction?

  1. The warehouse will be converted into an arts center, which is going to attract national attention.
  2. The warehouse is going to convert into an arts center, which will attract national attention.
  3. The warehouse is going to be converted into an arts center, which will attract national attention. (correct answer)
  4. The warehouse will have been converted into an arts center, which is going to attract national attention.
Explanation: When a question asks you to match verb forms to specific contexts, break it into two jobs: identify which action is authorized/planned (use going to in passive) and which is a personal prediction (use will). The passage tells you two things: the project has already been officially approved — that signals a concrete plan, which calls for going to. The mayor's comment is explicitly labeled a personal opinion, which signals a speculative prediction calling for will. Combine those with the grammar: converting a warehouse is something done to it, so it requires passive voice — is going to be converted, not active voice. Choice C, "The warehouse is going to be converted into an arts center, which will attract national attention," nails both requirements: passive going to for the approved plan, and will for the mayor's opinion-based prediction. That makes C correct. Choice A reverses the pairing — it uses will for the construction (which should reflect the official plan) and going to for the prediction (which should be will), so both halves are swapped. Choice B uses active voice — "is going to convert" — which is grammatically wrong here because the warehouse isn't doing the converting; workers are converting it. The passive structure is missing. Choice D uses will have been converted, a future perfect form implying the conversion will be already completed before some other point — nothing in the passage supports that timeline. It also misassigns going to to the prediction. A quick study tip: on grammar questions, always scan the passage for context clues — words like "approved," "signed," or "official" point to going to; phrases like "personal opinion" or "believes" point to will.

Question 3

Priya decided on Monday that she would not attend Friday's lecture. On Thursday, a classmate says, "I expect the lecturer will distribute a useful study guide." Priya replies, "I   the lecture, but I   you for a copy afterward." Her second statement is a decision she makes while replying.

Which pair of forms best preserves the contrast between Priya's prior negative plan and her immediate decision?

  1. will not attend; am going to ask
  2. am not going to attend; will ask (correct answer)
  3. will not attend; will ask
  4. am not going to attend; am going to ask
Explanation: When dealing with future forms in English, the key distinction to master is between "going to" (for pre-existing plans or intentions) and "will" (for spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking). This question tests whether you can match each clause to the right temporal and intentional context. Priya's first blank describes a decision she made on Monday — days before this conversation. That prior plan requires "going to," because it was formed in advance. Her second blank describes a decision she makes right now, in the moment of replying. Spontaneous, in-the-moment decisions call for "will." This gives you "am not going to attend" + "will ask" — making B correct. Here's why the other options fall short. A reverses the logic entirely: "will not attend" suggests she's deciding right now not to go, but the passage explicitly says she decided on Monday. Meanwhile, "am going to ask" implies she had already planned to request a copy — which contradicts the passage saying the second statement is a new, immediate decision. C applies "will not attend" to a pre-formed plan, committing the same error as A in the first blank, even though it correctly uses "will ask" for the second. D uses "going to" for both blanks, which would mean both decisions were pre-planned — but the second was spontaneous, so "going to ask" is wrong there. A useful rule of thumb: ask yourself when was this decision made? If it was made before the conversation, use "going to." If the decision happens as the words are spoken, use "will."

Question 4

During a tour, a guide notices that a heavy display case has begun to tilt toward a doorway. She says, "It   over." A visitor immediately replies, "Then I   everyone away from the door."

Which completion most appropriately expresses the guide's evidence-based prediction and the visitor's immediate response?

  1. will fall; am going to move
  2. is going to fall; am going to move
  3. will fall; will move
  4. is going to fall; will move (correct answer)
Explanation: When English tests future tense, the key distinction is between "will" (spontaneous decisions or predictions without evidence) and "be going to" (planned intentions or predictions based on visible evidence). Getting this right depends on reading the situation, not just the grammar. Here, the guide sees the display case actively tilting — she has physical evidence right in front of her. That evidence-based prediction calls for "is going to fall," not "will fall." Think of "be going to" as the tense you use when you can see something coming. The visitor then responds on the spot — no prior plan, no intention formed in advance — so their decision to move everyone is made in the moment. That spontaneous decision calls for "will move." This makes D the correct answer: "is going to fall; will move." Choice A ("will fall; am going to move") gets both verbs wrong. "Will fall" ignores the visible evidence, and "am going to move" wrongly implies the visitor had already planned to move people before the guide spoke. Choice B ("is going to fall; am going to move") gets the first verb right but falls into the same trap on the second — the visitor is reacting spontaneously, not following a pre-formed plan. Choice C ("will fall; will move") correctly captures the visitor's in-the-moment decision but misidentifies the guide's statement as a baseless prediction rather than an evidence-based one. A useful rule of thumb: ask yourself "Is there visible evidence? Was this decision made before or during the conversation?" Evidence → "be going to." Spontaneous reaction → "will."

Question 5

A student writes: "Our committee finalized the festival schedule yesterday. We will hold the opening ceremony in the courtyard. I think the ceremony is going to attract a large audience, though ticket reservations have not opened."

Which revision best applies the standard distinction between an established plan and a prediction based only on opinion?

  1. Our committee finalized the schedule yesterday. We are going to hold the ceremony in the courtyard. I think it will attract a large audience. (correct answer)
  2. Our committee finalized the schedule yesterday. We will hold the ceremony in the courtyard. I think it is going to attract a large audience.
  3. Our committee finalized the schedule yesterday. We are going to hold the ceremony in the courtyard. I think it is going to attract a large audience.
  4. Our committee finalized the schedule yesterday. We will hold the ceremony in the courtyard. I think it will attract a large audience.
Explanation: When choosing between "will" and "going to," English grammar draws a key distinction: use going to for established plans (decisions already made, often with evidence or prior arrangement) and will for predictions or opinions with no concrete backing — just a belief about the future. In the passage, the committee has already finalized the festival schedule, making "hold the ceremony in the courtyard" a confirmed, pre-arranged plan — exactly the context that calls for going to. Meanwhile, the speaker's belief that the ceremony will draw a large crowd is purely personal opinion, with no ticket sales or evidence to support it, which calls for will. Answer A correctly applies both rules: "We are going to hold the ceremony" signals the established plan, while "I think it will attract a large audience" signals an opinion-based prediction. That parallel structure — going to for the plan, will for the guess — makes A the right revision. Answer B reverses the logic entirely, using "will" for the confirmed plan and "going to" for the opinion-based prediction — the opposite of what the distinction requires. Answer C uses going to in both sentences, which treats the opinion like a concrete plan and blurs the grammatical distinction the question is testing. Answer D uses "will" for both, which ignores the established-plan signal entirely and reduces everything to mere prediction. As a study tip, watch for contextual clues: words like "finalized," "scheduled," or "already decided" signal going to, while phrases like "I think" or "I believe" with no supporting evidence signal will.

Question 6

Yesterday, the museum's board approved a detailed plan to convert the west wing into a children's gallery. The director believes the new gallery   more families, although no attendance data are available yet.

Which sentence most appropriately states both the board's established plan and the director's unsupported prediction?

  1. The museum will convert the west wing, and the gallery is going to attract more families.
  2. The museum is going to convert the west wing, and the gallery will attract more families. (correct answer)
  3. The museum will convert the west wing, and the gallery will attract more families.
  4. The museum is going to convert the west wing, and the gallery is going to attract more families.
Explanation: When a question asks you to match verb forms to different levels of certainty or commitment, you're being tested on the distinction between "will" and "be going to" in English. These aren't interchangeable — each signals something different about how a future event is established. Use be going to when a plan is already decided, concrete, and in motion. Use will when making a prediction, expressing an opinion about the future, or stating something without prior arrangement. The passage gives you two very different situations: the board has already approved a detailed plan (concrete, decided), and the director believes something will happen — a prediction with no supporting data. Answer B correctly matches each situation to the right form. "The museum is going to convert the west wing" reflects the board's approved plan — it's arranged and decided. "The gallery will attract more families" reflects the director's unsupported prediction — a belief, not an established fact. Answer A reverses the logic: "will convert" treats the board's plan as a mere prediction, while "is going to attract" makes the director's guess sound like an arranged certainty — the opposite of what the passage tells you. Answer C uses "will" for both clauses, which flattens the distinction entirely. The board's concrete plan deserves be going to, not the more speculative "will." Answer D uses be going to for both, making the director's unsupported prediction sound as concrete as the board's official decision — which misrepresents the passage. Your takeaway: when you see two future events with different levels of certainty, always assign be going to to arranged plans and will to opinions or predictions.

Question 7

Nora and Luis are discussing tomorrow's community meeting.

Nora: I reserved the conference room last week, so we   there at nine. Luis: Then I   the volunteers now and tell them the location.

Which pair of verb forms best completes the dialogue according to the standard distinction between a prior plan and a decision made at the moment of speaking?

  1. will meet; am going to call
  2. are going to meet; will call (correct answer)
  3. will meet; will call
  4. are going to meet; am going to call
Explanation: When answering questions like this, you need to distinguish between two future forms: "be going to" signals a pre-existing plan or intention, while "will" signals a spontaneous decision made at the moment of speaking. Look at Nora's line first. She says she reserved the conference room last week — that past action is your signal. Because the plan was made in advance, "are going to meet" is the correct choice. This is the defining context for "be going to": a future action already arranged before the moment of speaking. Now look at Luis's line. He says he'll contact volunteers now, directly in response to just learning the location. That real-time decision-making is the textbook trigger for "will." He wasn't planning to call anyone before this conversation; Nora's news is what prompts the action. So "will call" fits perfectly — making B ("are going to meet; will call") the correct answer. Choice A reverses the logic: "will meet" treats Nora's pre-arranged plan as if it were a spontaneous decision, and "am going to call" treats Luis's in-the-moment response as a prior intention — both backwards. Choice C uses "will" for both, ignoring that Nora's plan was clearly made in advance. Choice D uses "be going to" for both, ignoring that Luis is reacting spontaneously to new information. A useful study tip: scan the surrounding context for time clues. Words like last week, already, or I've decided point to "be going to," while phrases like in that case or then I'll signal a spontaneous "will."

Question 8

A travel agent knows that Marcus and Dana discussed their vacation options last night. She asks about their decision and then offers her own opinion about the weather.

Which pair of questions correctly asks first about the travelers' existing plan and then about the agent's prediction?

  1. Will you stay near the harbor? Do you think it is going to rain?
  2. Will you stay near the harbor? Do you think it will rain?
  3. Are you going to stay near the harbor? Do you think it will rain? (correct answer)
  4. Are you going to stay near the harbor? Are you going to think it is going to rain?
Explanation: When choosing between will and be going to in English, context is everything. Both express future events, but they carry different meanings. Use be going to for plans already made or decisions reached before the moment of speaking. Use will for predictions, opinions, or spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking. The passage gives you two distinct situations: the travelers discussed their plans last night (a prior decision), and the agent is forming her own opinion about weather (a prediction in the moment). That contrast is your key to the right answer. Answer C is correct because "Are you going to stay near the harbor?" uses be going to, which perfectly captures a plan the travelers already made during their previous conversation. Then "Do you think it will rain?" uses will inside a think-clause, which is the natural English structure for expressing an opinion or prediction at the moment of speaking. Answer A fails on both counts — "Will you stay near the harbor?" treats the travelers' decision as if it were spontaneous or unknown, ignoring that they already planned it. Answer B makes the same error in the first question, even though its second question is grammatically fine. Answer D gets the first question right with be going to, but "Are you going to think it is going to rain?" is unnatural and grammatically awkward — think is a stative verb and doesn't work naturally with be going to in a question about forming an opinion. A quick rule of thumb: if the plan existed before the conversation, reach for be going to; if it's a fresh prediction or opinion, reach for will.

Question 9

At breakfast, Omar says, "I arranged yesterday to take the train home tonight." At noon, the rail company announces an unexpected cancellation. Omar looks at the notice and makes a new decision.

Which statement by Omar best expresses both his abandoned prior plan and his replacement decision made after seeing the notice?

  1. I will take the train, but now I am going to rent a car.
  2. I was going to take the train, but now I am renting a car yesterday.
  3. I would take the train, but now I am going to rent a car.
  4. I was going to take the train, but now I will rent a car. (correct answer)
Explanation: When a sentence needs to express an abandoned past intention followed by a new present decision, English uses specific verb constructions for each job. Recognizing these constructions is the key to this question. The phrase "was going to + verb" is the standard way to express a past intention that no longer holds — a plan that existed before but has since been cancelled or replaced. For the replacement decision made now, "will + verb" expresses a fresh, immediate resolution (sometimes called the "decision will"), which is exactly what Omar makes upon seeing the notice. That makes D the correct answer: "I was going to take the train, but now I will rent a car." The first clause captures the morning plan that circumstances have overturned; the second captures the snap decision made at noon. Both tenses do their jobs precisely. A fails immediately because "I will take the train" states a future intention to actually board the train — the opposite of abandoning the plan. It contradicts the scenario entirely before the "but" even arrives. B gets the first clause right ("was going to take the train") but then attaches "yesterday" to "renting a car," which is a contradiction in terms. You cannot be currently renting a car yesterday — the temporal marker makes the sentence grammatically and logically incoherent. C uses "would take," which in this context sounds like a conditional or habitual past ("I would take the train whenever…"), not a specific abandoned intention. It lacks the sense of a concrete prior plan. Your study tip: whenever you spot "but now" signaling a reversal, look for "was going to" on the left side and a present-moment "will" on the right — that pairing is the reliable signal for this structure.