Will vs Going to vs Present Continuous Exercises

English has three main ways to talk about the future, and choosing the right one depends on the context. Will is for quick decisions made now ("I'll open the window"), predictions based on opinion ("I think she'll love it"), promises, and offers. Going to is for plans decided before speaking ("I'm going to learn French this year") and predictions based on present evidence ("He's going to miss the train — look, it's leaving!"). Present continuous is for fixed arrangements with a specific time or place ("I'm meeting Tom at 6 pm").

The challenge is that these forms overlap. Both "going to" and present continuous describe future plans, but present continuous implies the plan is more definite and arranged. Both "will" and "going to" make predictions, but "going to" needs visible evidence. In exam questions, look for clues in the context: words like "just decided" or "I think" point to "will"; evidence descriptions point to "going to"; specific times and arrangements point to present continuous. This three-way comparison is a favourite topic in Cambridge B1 Preliminary and B2 First exams.