Learning English

Future forms will be easier to understand...

...if you read this explanation and have a go at the activity. We can can make predictions in English in several ways, including using will, going to, might and be likely to. There are a few important things to remember about these words and phrases in positive, negative and question forms.

So, read this explanation and then try the activity!

阅读文章并完成练习

'Will', 'going to', 'be likely to' and 'might' - form

For will and might, the form is subject + will / might + infinitive.

We use the same form for all persons (I, you, he, she, and so on). You can contract will to 'll in the positive form - we normally do this in spoken language.

Positive

• The new smartphone will have all sorts of special features.
• We'll be connected 24/7 when everywhere has free wifi.
• I've ordered a new phone for the office. It might arrive today.

Negative

• This video call will not last long - we only have one thing to discuss.
• We won't see much change in keyboard layouts for the next few years.
• There might not be any announcements about the new technology room today - don't count on it!

We can use the contracted form won't for all persons (I, you, he, she, and so on). Sometimes we contract might not to mightn't, especially in speaking.

For going to and likely to, the form is subject + am/are/is + going to/likely to + infinitive. We can contract I am (I'm), you are/we are/they are (you're/we're/they're) and he is/she is (he's/she's).

Positive

• They're going to announce a new line of laptops soon.
• The line is going to come out in September. It's going to be all over the news.
• It's likely to be a major advance in computing technology.

Negative

• Some people say technology isn't going to change our lives that much.
• We aren't going to see the smartring any time soon.

The negative of likely is unlikely.

• The new smartwatches are unlikely to be a big revolution in technology.

Questions
To form questions with will, going to and likely, it's auxiliary (Will/Am/Is/Are) + subject + verb. We often use short answers.

• Will this new smartwatch change my life? No, it won't.
• Are they going to announce the software release today? Yes, they are.
• Is it likely to be any better than the previous version? No, it isn't.

We can also make questions with question words.

• When will they sort out the computers at work?
• Who will win the tech race?
• Where are they going to release the new phone first?

It is possible to ask a question with Might + subject + infinitive, but it's more common to form a question with Do you think + subject + might + infinitive.

• Do you think this might change computing as we know it?

Important note: Will and might

Remember that will and might are modal verbs, so we use the infinitive without to after them.

WRONG:

• People will to go on holiday to the moon within 50 years.
• They might to make a computer that is really small.

CORRECT:

• People will go on holiday to the moon within 50 years.
• They might make a computer that is really small.

To do

Here are some questions about forming sentences using will, going to, might and likely to. Will you get them all right?

Next

Now we've looked at forming sentences about the future, you will know what comes next: it's time for 6 Minute Grammar. Join us in the next activity where we're going to help you talk about the future!