Exercises on futures

1. 1 Underline the correct form
1 Give me your suitcase.
it upstairs.
2 Are you thirsty? a cup of tea.
3 The next train in an hour.
4 I need some help with the decorating.
What
at the weekend?
I take/ I’ll take / I’m taking
I make / I’ll make
leaves / is going to leave
will you do / are you doing / do you do

2. 5 A: Somebody’s knocking at the door. Who can it be?
6 Watch out! That pile of books
7 Sandy isn’t free next Saturday.
8 I’m sure
B: I go and see / I’ll go and see.
will fall / is going to fall.
She works / She’s working / She’ll work.
they’ll understand / they’re going to understand.

3. 2 Complete the sentences with an appropriate
future form
1 I’m sure I (see) him tomorrow.
2 He (not go out) again tonight.
3 There are flames coming out from the top floor of that
house. Look! The roof (collapse)
4 Who (give) them the news?
I’m not.
will see
is not going out
is going to collapse
is going to give

4. 5 What have your friends decided to do?
(they/buy) that cottage or
not?
6 There are already some snowflakes in the air.
It (snow) again tonight.
7 (scientists/be able)
to predict earthquakes one day?
8 (people/become)
more eco-friendly?
are they going to buy
is going to snow
will scientists be able
will people become

5. 3 Complete the dialogues using
be going to, present continuous, present simple or will
1 A: “ When (your friend/arrive) , Walt?”
B: “Tomorrow afternoon.”
A: “Are you sure he (not/mind)
sleeping on the sofa bed?”
IS YOUR FRIEND ARRIVING
WON’T MIND/ISN’T GOING TO MIND
2 A: “(Brenda/work) at her parents’
shop after she finishes high school?”
B: “Perhaps she (work) for a short time, but only if
she doesn’t find a suitable job elsewhere.
She told me she (not/live)
in this small
town for long.
IS BRENDA GOING TO WORK
‘LL WORK
ISN’T GOING TO LIVE/WASN’T GOING TO LIVE

6. 3 A: “How long do you think it (take)
you to finish this job?”
B: “I can’t tell you for sure. It (probably/take)
me a couple of weeks. Maybe longer.”
4 A: “I (do) some ironing.”
B: “But it’s time to go to bed.”
A: “You’re right. Well, I (only/iron) a couple of
things and I (leave) the rest for tomorrow.”
WILL TAKE/IS GOING TO TAKE
‘LL PROBABLY TAKE
‘M GOING TO DO
‘LL ONLY IRON
’LL LEAVE

7. 5 A: “What (your parents/say) when you
tell them you (not/go) home for
Christmas? (they/get) upset?
B: “They (probably/not/be) particularly
pleased, but my brother (spend)
Christmas with them, anyway.
6 A: “My tennis racket’s broken”
B: “I (lend) you mine. But (you/play)
in this hot weather?
WILL YOUR PARENTS SAY
‘RE NOT GOING (TO GO)
WILL THEY GET
PROBABLY WON’T BE
IS GOING TO SPEND/IS SPENDING
‘LL LEND
ARE YOU GOING TO PLAY/ARE YOU PLAYING

8. 4 be going to or will? Sometimes both tenses are correct
3 A: “Where (you/plant)
that rose bush? The garden is full already.”
B: “ Perhaps you’re right. I (put)
it in a big pot on the terrace then.
ARE YOU GOING TO PLANT/WILL YOU PLANT
‘LL PUT
1 Let’s walk home quickly. There (be) a storm soon.
4 A: “How (you/spend)
your holiday this year, Eileen?”
E: “Well, Rob (not/take)
any holidays this summer, so I’m on my own. Perhaps I (go)
on a package tour to Morocco, but I’m not sure yet.”
IS GOING TO BE
ARE YOU GOING TO SPEND/WILL YOU SPEND
ISN’T TAKING/ISN’T GOING TO TAKE
’LL GO
2 Look, there’s a hole in one of your socks. Put on a new pair.
I (mend) that one this afternoon.’LL MEND

9. 5 A: “There’s a stain on your jacket”
B: “Yes, I know. But I (not/change)
it now. I (take) it to the dry
cleaners this evening.”
6 Dave keeps saying that he (not/get married) ,
but I’m sure he (get married)
sooner or later.
‘M NOT GOING TO CHANGE/’M NOT CHANGING
‘LL TAKE/’M GOING TO TAKE
IS NOT GOING TO GET MARRIED/WON’T GET MARRIED
’LL GET MARRIED

10. 7 The economic situation (not get better)
in the near future, I’m afraid.
8 The economic crisis seems to be here to stay. I don’t
think we (see) any improvement
in the near future.
WON’T GET BETTER/ISN’T GOING TO GET BETTER
‘LL SEE/’RE GOING TO SEE

11. 5 Match each sentence with its function
1 Leave your luggage here. We’ll keep an eye on it.
2 Be careful! You’re going to fall off the ladder
3 My aunt and uncle are moving to Kent next month.
4 I’m not well today. I’m going to take a day off
5 When does school break up this year?
6 What will life be like 10 years from now?
a. programma stabilito
b. orari/scadenze fissati
c. promessa/decisione
immediate
d. previsioni
e. eventi che stanno
per verificarsi f. intenzione