Class 19-4: Expressing Degrees of Certainty in the Future Tense

20-4 He will be learning how to fly.

 

 

Degrees of certainty in the future tense means how confident you are that a specific topic is true or not true – in the future. This means you understand that the action(s) you are discussing will happen.

  Future Time: Negative

Rules: If you are 100% sure about the topic you are discussing, use will not. Will not is used for a statement of fact. Examples: 1. Tom will not be tired when he gets back from his job. 2. Tom will not be slow if he trains for the race.

If you are 90% sure about the topic you are discussing, use shouldn’t or should not. You believe the possibility of the topic being true is good.

1. Seth shouldn’t do well on the exam. He did not study.

2. Seth shouldn’t be hungry after he eats lunch.

If you are 60% sure about the topic you are discussing, use may not or might not. You are discussing suspicious or uncertain thoughts about the topic.

1. Sarah may not be happy. Her dog just died.

2. Molly is not eating. She might not be hungry.

  Future Time: Positive

Rules: If you are 100% sure about the topic you are discussing, use will. You are 100% sure the topic is correct. Will is used for a statement of fact. Examples: 1. Tom will be tired when he gets back from soccer practice. 2. Tom will be slow if he does not practice.

If you are 90% sure about the topic you are discussing, use should. You believe the possibility of the topic being true is good.

1. She should be home soon.

2. She should feel better tomorrow.

If you are 60% sure about the topic you are discussing, use may, might, or could.

1. Susan may do 20 pushups for soccer practice.

2. The dog might do bad actions if you do not lock her up.

3. He could do great things if you give him a chance.

Exercise

Exercise 1: Underline the correct degree of certainty for each sentence. Look at the percentage next to the question, then look above to match the degree of certainty with the percentage.

1.  100% → Terri (will be / might be) at soccer practice.

2.  90% → She (will not be / should not be) at school. She’s sick.

3.  100% → They (will be / might be) with her mother this weekend.

4.  60% → They (will be / could be) at the park.

5.  90% → Mike (could be / should be) at work.

6.  100% → John (will be / could be) at my house on Thursday.

7.  60% → Seth (might not be / will not be) on time for work. He is in traffic.

8.  100% → Ben (will be / should be) at the store.

9.  90% → Jake (should be / could be) at home by 9:00pm.

10.  80% → Your keys (will be / might be) on the table.

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lmcrun19