THE FUTURE SIMPLE versus BE GOING TO
Ex.11. What doeswill or be goingtoexpress in each sentence? Choose the correct variant from the meanings in brackets.
1. Can I take your order, sir? – Yes, I’ll have the salmon with a salad, please. (on-the-spot decision/ promise)
2. My younger brother is a computer nerd. He says he is going to become a great computer programmer. (planned action/ ambition)
3. Your brother is very clever for his age. He will probably have a very successful career. (warning/ prediction about the future based on past experience, belief and expectation)
4. We’re going to visit the Louvre tomorrow. (planned action/ ambition)
5. It’ll probably be really busy and you’ll have to queue. (expectation/ warning)
6. I’m not going to get petrol here. It’s too dear. (a firm decision/ a plan)
7. Look at those black clouds – it’s going to rain. (a prediction about the near future, when we can see something that is about to happen/ a prediction based on our intuition, expectation or belief)
8. I expect she’ll want to stay in one of the best hotels. (a prediction based on the evidence of something that is going to happen in the near future/ a prediction based on our intuition, expectation or belief)
9. I’m afraid we’re lost. I’ll stop and ask the way. (on-the-spot decision/ a decision already made)
10. She’ll be 40 this coming October. (a future event which will definitely happen and which we cannot control/ a prediction based on our intuition, expectation or belief)
Ex.12. Fill in: will or be going to.
1. I don’t know how to use this camera. – It’s quite easy. I ________ show.
2. These plants need watering. – I know. I ________ water them later.
3. Is Roger coming to the party? - Yes, but he ________ probably be late.
4. (In a hotel) I’ve got a problem with my shower. It isn’t working. – I ________ send someone up straightaway. Which room is it?
5. You ________ certainly make a big impact on Carter.
6. Madonna ________ give a charity concert next month.
7. What do you want for lunch? – I think I ________ have chicken and a small salad.
8. Watch out! You ________ bang your head on the door frame.
9. I’ve got a splitting headache! – Have you? Wait there and I ________ get a tablet for you.
10. Don’t worry about these dirty marks. They ________ wash off easily.
11. Why have you set the alarm clock to go off at five thirty? – Because I ________ get up then. I need to go to the railway station to meet someone.
12. Don’t sit in the sun for too long. You ________ get sunburnt.
13. My sister Ruth ________ study abroad next year.
14. We have excellent sale opportunities in Asia, and we ________ increase sales by at least ten percent this year.
15. I hope he ________ recognize me when he sees me.
BE GOING TOversus THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Ex.13. Open the brackets to complete the sentences. Use be going to or the Present Continuous with the meaning of future.
1. Aunt Ann (come) out of hospital next Thursday. I (drive) her home. – Aunt Ann is coming out of hospital next Thursday.I’m going to drive her home.
2. ________ you really ________ (give up) smoking? – Yes, I am. I threw my last packet of cigarettes away yesterday.
3. The Sales Manager ________ (fly) to Italy on Friday.
4. Have you washed the car? - Not yet, I ________ (wash) it later.
5. Have you made the coffee? – Not yet, I ________ just (make) it.
6. The strikers ________ (return) to work on Monday.
7. Tomorrow is Dad’s birthday and we ________ (go) out for a meal to celebrate.
8. When ________ you ________ (pay) the electricity bill?
9. I don’t like this pizza. I ________ (not finish up) it.
10. I’ve arranged for the window-cleaner to come. He ________ (come) at 9 tomorrow morning.
11. Our company ________ (open) a new branch in Amsterdam next month.
12. I’m tired of the whole thing, and I ________ (not talk) about it anymore.
13. I can’t promise you anything today. We ________ (interview) a few candidates for the post this Thursday.
14. Paul says they’ve already accepted him. He ________ (start) his university course in September.