Making Predictions

Jun 10, 2015

If you think something is possible in the future, you are making a prediction.

 I think England will win the next World Cup.

 These are the most common expressions for making predictions. The percentages (%) are very approximate - just to show you the order of the expressions.

 

It'll definitely rain.

100% chance of rain

It'll almost certainly rain. 
It's bound to rain.

90%-99%

It'll probably rain. 
It's likely to rain.

80%-95%

It'll possibly rain. 
It might rain.

50%-80%

It might not rain.

20%-50%

It probably won't rain. 
It isn't likely to rain.

5%-20%

It almost certainly won't rain.

1%-5%

It definitely won't rain.

0% chance of rain

 

Notice the position of words like "definitely" - before "won't", but after "will".

We sometimes use '(to be) going to' instead of 'will' for predictions. ‘(To be) going to' can mean that we have a reason or some present evidence for making the prediction:

 

I think it'll snow next Christmas.

(but that's in 12 months - I can't know this)

 

I think it 's going to snow again tomorrow.

(there are a lot of clouds and the weather is very, very cold)

 

What are your predictions for this year? What are your predictions for the next thirty years? Write a short composition and be sure to include the new vocabulary from the table above…



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