PREDICTIONS: WILL & GOING TO

English Futures: Making Predictions - Will, Going to & Other Expressions

Welcome to this module on using ‘WILL’ and ‘GOING TO’ when making predictions.

In everyday conversations, we often talk about future things which are not personal plans or decisions and so it’s important to know how to express predictions clearly. The module covers at the key differences between the WILL & GOING TO forms, so you can feel confident when making predictions in English.

The module also looks at other ways of making predicitive statements about future events including the modal verbs May/Might/Could & Should.

Learning Outcome: By the end of this module and its quiz, you’ll really understand how and when to use ‘will’ and ‘going to’ for making predictions. You’ll be able to choose the right form depending on the situation and communicate your ideas about the future more accurately.

The interactive module, below, can be zoomed to fill the screen. If you are on a mobile phone, put it in landscape so the module fills your screen. The 30 Minute timer is for the Exit Quiz, not the Module.

Review & Consolidation Quiz

Welcome to your PREDICTIONS: Will versus Going to & other expressions

Watch out! Your glass of water is right on the edge of the table. It______________________

will fall off and break.

's going to fall off and break.

's falling off and breaking.

may off and break.

None

The weather report says it_________________very hot tomorrow.

's going to be

will be

's raining

will be raining

None

Look at those black clouds! It___________________________any minute now.

will rain

may rain

is likely to rain

's going to rain

None

According to the latest research, the population ____________________by 5.5% in the next decade.

will grow

is going to grow

may grow

might grow

None

I just heard thunder. It_____________________ wet and windy quite soon.

's going to get

will get

may get

's unlikely to get

None

The stock market looks unstable. Experts predict it______________________soon.

will crash

's going to crash

may crash

crashes

None

Look at that athlete! His legs are like jelly! He's________________________

's going to collapse

will collapse

might collapse

is collapsing

None

Wow, just look at this traffic! We're_____________________________late.

will be

're going to be

may be

should be

None

The UN Scientific Committee on Climate Change says the planet's average global temparature__________________________in the next 10 years

will rise

is going to rise

should rise

will be rising

None

Listen! That's the fire alarm!! We___________________________to evacuate the building.

're going to have

will have

may have

're having

None

I'm not sure, but I think Paolo______________________arrive soon

is going to

will

may

might

None

Be careful! That vase looks like it______________off the shelf.

will

's going to

may

might

None

Based on her symptoms, the doctor thinks she___________________better soon.

's going to get

will get

may get

might get

None

Look at the way he's driving! He_______________________cause an accident.

will

is going to

might

is likely to

None

Which answer (a,b,c) is most similar in meaning to: The forecast says there might be a storm later.

It's very likely that there will be a storm

The chances are good that there will be a storm

there may be a storm

None

It's going to be warm overnight, so it______________________snow tomorrow

might not

is unlikely to

isn't a chance of

won't be

None

She has been training hard for the race. The other competitors are not so well-prepared....

The likelyhood is that she will win

She might win

The chances are not so good that she will win

She is highly likely win

None

The company hasn't announced any plans for new products , so it___________________________to launch anything new soon.

is unlikely

has the low odds

is unlikelyhood

won't

None

Given the current sales figures, the odds are that we____________________hit our sales target this quarter.

will

might

may

likely

None

He's very busy with other projects. He___________________________attend the meeting.

's unlikely to

might

's likely to

won't

None

They have been advertising the event for weeks. The likelihood

is that many people will go.

is likely that many people will go.

is that many people might go.

is that the chances are that many people will go.

None

The weather has been unpredicatable lately. It__________________, but we can't be sure.

might rain

is likely to rain

will rain

isn't going to rain

None

Finish the sentence: The team has been working very hard,...

They probably may finish on time.

they maybe might finish on time

the odds are that they will finish on time.

are unlikely to finish on time.

None

Which OPINION PHRASES sound the least certain.

I suppose...

I guess...

As far as I'm concerned...

As far as I see it...

None

This sentence is OK, but select the likely interpretation: "Yes, I think he's going to pass the test."

The speaker has some expert or informed knowlege

The speaker is simply giving their opinion.

None

Which prediction, A, B or C happens in the very near future (not a longer term future)

That chair will break.

That chair is about to break.

The chances are that chair will break

None

Which prediction, A or B, sounds more reasurring to Sue?

Don't get so stressed Sue, I'm sure things are going to be OK

Don't get so stressed Sue, I'm sure things will be OK.

None

It's so cold today, I reckon...

it certainly will snow.

it will snow

perhaps it will snow

the likelihood of snow

None

(It's only 2pm) The sky's getting dark, I think________________a storm.

there will be

there's going to be

there's about to be

there might be

None

Which do you prefer?

I won't make many mistakes with 'will & going to' in future.

I'm not going to make many mistakes with 'will & going to' in future

None

Time's up