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Understanding when to use will and present continuous for future meanings can be tricky for English learners. Both forms talk about the future, but they are used in slightly different ways.
This post gives you practice exercises to help you master the difference between will and present continuous — including quizzes, matching tasks, multiple-choice questions, and gap-fill activities. Let’s get started!
Quick Review
- Will → used for promises, offers, spontaneous decisions, and predictions.
- Example: I’ll help you with your homework.
- Present Continuous → used for fixed or arranged future plans.
- Example: I’m meeting Sarah at 5 PM.
Before doing the exercise, check this post about future tenses.
Will or Present Continuous Exercises with Answers
Exercise 1: True or False Quiz
Based on your knowledge of English tenses, say whether these statements are true or false about future plans:
- We use the present continuous for future plans when we talk about arranged events.
- True
- False
- We use will when we talk about spontaneous decisions made at the moment of speaking.
- True
- False
- Going to is used for predictions based on what we believe will happen, not on present evidence.
- True
- False
- We can use present continuous and going to interchangeably in all future situations.
- True
- False
- Will is used for promises, offers, and predictions.
- True
- False
- We use going to for things we have already decided to do.
- True
- False
- Present continuous can be used for scheduled events like “The train leaves at 6.”
- True
- False
Answers with Explanations
1. True → We use the present continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for arranged future plans.
Example: I am meeting Sarah at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
2. True → We use will for spontaneous decisions made at the moment.
Example: I’m thirsty. → I’ll get some water.
3. False → Going to is used when there’s present evidence for a future event. Predictions based on beliefs or opinions usually take will.
Example: Look at those clouds — it’s going to rain. (evidence)
Example: I think he will win. (opinion)
4. False → Present continuous and going to are not always interchangeable. Present continuous is for personal arrangements; going to is for plans or intentions without arrangements.
Example (present continuous): I’m seeing the dentist at 3.
Example (going to): I’m going to visit Paris next year.
5. True → We use will for promises, offers, and predictions.
Example (promise): I will help you.
Example (offer): I’ll carry your bag.
Example (prediction): It will snow tomorrow.
6. True → Going to is used for plans or intentions already decided.
Example: I’m going to start a new job next month.
7. False → Scheduled events like timetables use the present simple, not present continuous.
Example: The train leaves at 6. (present simple)
Example (present continuous): I’m leaving at 6. (personal plan)
1. True → We use the present continuous (am/is/are + verb-ing) for arranged future plans.
Example: I am meeting Sarah at 5 p.m. tomorrow.
2. True → We use will for spontaneous decisions made at the moment.
Example: I’m thirsty. → I’ll get some water.
3. False → Going to is used when there’s present evidence for a future event. Predictions based on beliefs or opinions usually take will.
Example: Look at those clouds — it’s going to rain. (evidence)
Example: I think he will win. (opinion)
4. False → Present continuous and going to are not always interchangeable. Present continuous is for personal arrangements; going to is for plans or intentions without arrangements.
Example (present continuous): I’m seeing the dentist at 3.
Example (going to): I’m going to visit Paris next year.
5. True → We use will for promises, offers, and predictions.
Example (promise): I will help you.
Example (offer): I’ll carry your bag.
Example (prediction): It will snow tomorrow.
6. True → Going to is used for plans or intentions already decided.
Example: I’m going to start a new job next month.
7. False → Scheduled events like timetables use the present simple, not present continuous.
Example: The train leaves at 6. (present simple)
Example (present continuous): I’m leaving at 6. (personal plan)
Exercise 2: Matching Exercise
Match the sentence with its explanation.
| Sentence | Explanation |
|---|---|
| A. I’ll call you later. | 1. Spontaneous decision |
| B. She’s leaving for Paris tomorrow morning. | 2. Fixed schedule or arrangement |
| C. I think it’ll rain tomorrow. | 3. Prediction |
| D. Don’t worry, I’ll carry that for you. | 4. Promise or offer |
A. → 4. Promise or offer
B. → 2. Fixed schedule or arrangement
C. → 3. Prediction
D. → 1. Spontaneous decision
B. → 2. Fixed schedule or arrangement
C. → 3. Prediction
D. → 1. Spontaneous decision
Exercise 3: Multiple Choice
Choose the correct option.
- Which sentence expresses an arranged plan?
- A) I’ll visit my grandparents next weekend.
- B) I’m visiting my grandparents next weekend.
- Which sentence expresses a spontaneous decision?
- A) I’ll answer the phone!
- B) I’m answering the phone!
- Which sentence expresses a fixed timetable?
- A) The flight will depart at 10 AM.
- B) The flight is departing at 10 AM.
- Which sentence expresses a promise?
- A) I’ll help you with your project.
- B) I’m helping you with your project.
1. → B
2. → A
3. → B
4. → A
2. → A
3. → B
4. → A
Exercise 4: Gap-Fill Exercise
Put the verb between brackets into the correct form: will or present continuous.
- She __________ (meet) her friends at the café tonight.
- I think it __________ (be) sunny tomorrow.
- Wait, I __________ (help) you carry those bags!
- We __________ (leave) for Rome next Monday.
- Don’t worry, I __________ (call) you when I get home.
- He __________ (start) his new job next week.
- I __________ (probably / not / go) to the party.
- They __________ (come) over at 7 PM.
1. → She is meeting her friends at the café tonight.
2. → I think it will be sunny tomorrow.
3. → Wait, I will help you carry those bags!
4. → We are leaving for Rome next Monday.
5. → Don’t worry, I will call you when I get home.
6. → He is starting his new job next week.
7. → I probably won’t go to the party. (or: will probably not go)
8. → They are coming over at 7 PM.
2. → I think it will be sunny tomorrow.
3. → Wait, I will help you carry those bags!
4. → We are leaving for Rome next Monday.
5. → Don’t worry, I will call you when I get home.
6. → He is starting his new job next week.
7. → I probably won’t go to the party. (or: will probably not go)
8. → They are coming over at 7 PM.