Quick Chat
Speak
"Cars will fly by 2050." Do you agree? How sure are you — 100%? 50%? 10%?
Speak
Think of a prediction about your own life in 5 years. How confident are you it will happen?
Strong speakers don't just say "I think..." — they show HOW SURE they are. "Cars will fly" sounds foolish. "Cars might fly" sounds thoughtful. Same idea, different certainty.
Today: the grammar of certainty — from "definitely" to "I doubt it" — and the vocabulary to talk about the future.
The Certainty Scale
English has different modal verbs and adverbs for different levels of certainty. The scale runs from 100% sure to almost impossible:
100%
will definitely / is certain to
"Electric cars will definitely replace petrol cars."
90%
will probably / is very likely to
"AI will probably change most jobs."
70%
should / is likely to
"Prices should come down eventually."
50%
might / could / may
"We might see flying taxis in our lifetime."
30%
probably won't / is unlikely to
"Cash probably won't disappear completely."
10%
I doubt... / I can't see... happening
"I doubt we'll live on Mars in my lifetime."
Where does "probably" go in a sentence?
After "will": "It will probably rain."
Before "won't": "It probably won't work."
This is a common mistake — the position changes with positive vs negative!
What's the difference between "might" and "could"?
Almost the same at this level. Both = ~50% certainty.
"Might" slightly more about possibility: "It might rain."
"Could" slightly more about ability/potential: "This could change everything."
In practice, they're interchangeable for predictions.
Try it
Make 6 predictions about the next 20 years — one at each level of the certainty scale. Use a different modal each time.
Word Power
Tap to reveal. These help you talk about the future and change.
Future & Change Words
gradually
slowly, step by step — "Things are gradually improving"
rapidly
very quickly — "Technology is changing rapidly"
replace
take the place of — "Robots could replace some workers"
transform
change completely — "AI will transform education"
decline
become less / get worse — "The number of shops is declining"
Prediction Topics
renewable energy
energy from sun, wind, water — not oil or gas
remote working
working from home instead of an office
climate change
long-term changes in temperature and weather patterns
automation
machines doing work that people used to do
ageing population
when the average age of people in a country goes up
Hedging Phrases
I'd say...
a soft way to give your opinion — less direct than "I think"
arguably
you could make a case for this — "Arguably, this is the biggest problem"
to some extent
partly true — "To some extent, I agree"
it's hard to say
honest uncertainty — "It's hard to say what will happen"
I wouldn't be surprised if
you think something is possible — "I wouldn't be surprised if it happened"
Challenge
Close all cards. Make 5 predictions about your country using 5 different vocabulary words from the grid.
The Prediction Game
For each topic, make 3 predictions at different certainty levels. You have 90 seconds per round.
Round 1 — Transport
How will people travel in 2050?
Make 3 predictions: one you're very sure about (will definitely/probably), one you're 50/50 on (might/could), and one you doubt (probably won't / I doubt).
Must use: 3 different certainty levels
Round 2 — Work
What will jobs look like in 20 years?
Think about: automation, remote working, new types of jobs. Use hedging phrases — not everything is certain!
Must use: "I'd say..." + "arguably" + one "I wouldn't be surprised if..."
Round 3 — Your Life
Where will you be in 10 years?
Personal predictions — career, home, lifestyle. Be honest about what you're sure about and what you're not.
Must use: "will probably" + "might" + "it's hard to say"
Round 4 — The Debate
"Cash will completely disappear within 10 years." Do you agree?
Take a position but use hedging. Show certainty where you have it, and uncertainty where you don't.
Must use: at least 4 different phrases from the certainty scale
Recall Zone
From CT-21: Big Questions
What phrase shows you've considered something carefully before answering? Give two examples.
"I've always thought that..." / "I've never really considered..." / "I've noticed that..."
Present perfect = your thinking connects past to now. It shows depth.
From CT-20: All About Me
How do you connect your past to your present when telling your story?
"I studied law, but now I work in sales." / "I used to live in a small town, but I moved to the city."
Connectors (but, so, and then) bridge past simple → present simple.
From CT-19: How Things Work
What are the 5 sequencing words for explaining steps in order?
First → Then → After that → Next → Finally
These work for predictions too: "First, automation will affect factories. Then, it'll spread to offices..."
What did you learn?
Final challenge
"What will the world look like in 2050?" — Speak for 90 seconds. Use at least 4 different certainty levels from the scale. No notes!
Do you tend to be too certain or too uncertain when you speak English? What's your natural style?