Three things people say without planning them first:

• "You look busy — I'll carry those bags for you."
• "I haven't got any cash on me — don't worry, I'll pay you back tomorrow."
• "The phone's ringing — I'll get it!"

In all three, did the speaker plan this before, or decide it right at that moment? Say your idea before you check.

1. Your friend can't lift a heavy box alone. You decide right now to help.

"Wait — you with that."

2. The waiter asks what you'd like. You look at the menu and decide right now.

" the soup, please."

Three plans, all decided before today:

• "We're going to visit my parents this weekend — we planned it last week."
• "I'm going to start a new job next month."
• "They're going to move to a bigger flat in the spring."

What's different about when these were decided, compared with the last tab? Say your idea before you check.

1. You bought concert tickets last month for a show this Friday. Tell a friend your plan.

"I a concert on Friday."

2. Your brother decided last week to paint his kitchen. Explain his plan.

"He his kitchen."

Three predictions, each based on something happening right now:

• "Look at those clouds — it's going to rain."
• "She's driving so fast — she's going to have an accident!"
• "The gate's closing and we're still running — we're going to miss the train."

What do all three speakers have in front of them, right now, that tells them what's coming? Say your idea before you check.

1. The shelf is already bending under all those boxes. Warn someone.

"Careful — that shelf ."

2. Look at the sky — it's completely black, and the wind just started. Warn a friend.

"There a storm."

3. Your friend hasn't studied at all, and the exam is tomorrow morning. You say: "You ___ if you don't study tonight!"

Think about your plans for next weekend — something you've already decided. Then imagine something unexpected happens right now (your phone rings, you spill your coffee, a friend asks for help) and you have to decide on the spot.

Tell the whole story out loud for one minute. Try to include:

• one plan you already decided (going to)
• one decision you make right at that moment (will)
• a prediction based on something you can see or hear right now (going to)

Write a short message (3–5 sentences) to a friend about your weekend. Include at least one plan you've already decided ("going to") and one offer, promise or decision you make right now ("will"). The checker will tell you which ones it finds.

1. "I will to carry your bags to the car."

2. "She going to open her own shop next year."

3. "It will rains later, look at those clouds."

4. "I going to visit my cousins this summer."

5. You booked flights to Spain last month for the summer. A friend asks about your holiday: "We ___ to Spain in July."

6. You can't decide between two jackets in the shop. The assistant asks which one — you point right now: "OK — ___ this one."

1. The form you knew before today — complete it: "I Ana for coffee tomorrow at ten — it's already arranged."

2. Say it out loud: what's the difference between "I'm meeting Ana at six" and "I'm going to meet Ana sometime this week"?

3. You just remembered you completely forgot your friend's birthday. Decide right now: " her right now to say sorry."

4. Your parents decided last month to sell their house. Explain their plan: "They their house."

5. Look — your bike tyre is almost flat, and it's getting flatter as you watch. Warn your friend: "Look out — your tyre flat!"

Which was trickier for you today — choosing between "will" and "going to", or remembering to keep "am/is/are" before "going to"? Say why you think that.