Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the correct way to express a scheduled event in the future?
What is the correct way to express a scheduled event in the future?
Which modal verb is used to express a strong possibility?
Which modal verb is used to express a strong possibility?
What is the correct way to express a plan or intention in the future?
What is the correct way to express a plan or intention in the future?
Which of the following is used to express permission?
Which of the following is used to express permission?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the correct way to express a future action with the purpose of achieving something?
What is the correct way to express a future action with the purpose of achieving something?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is used to express a past ability?
Which of the following is used to express a past ability?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the correct way to express a possibility in the future?
What is the correct way to express a possibility in the future?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is used to express a logical assumption about the past?
Which of the following is used to express a logical assumption about the past?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the correct way to express a future arrangement?
What is the correct way to express a future arrangement?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is used to express a future possibility?
Which of the following is used to express a future possibility?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Ways of Expressing Future
- Using present continuous for plans or arrangements, e.g., "We're having a tea party this afternoon."
- Using present simple for something scheduled, e.g., "The train arrives at 6.30 in the morning."
- Using "will" to express beliefs about the future, e.g., "I think Brazil will win the World Cup."
- Using "be going to" to talk about plans and intentions, e.g., "I'm going to drive to work today."
- Using "should" if we think there's a good chance of something happening, e.g., "We should be home in time for tea."
Ways of Expressing Purpose
- Using "to" to express purpose, e.g., "I am saving money to buy a new car."
- Using "so as not to" to express avoidance, e.g., "I'll take the taxi so as not to be late."
- Using "so that" to express purpose, e.g., "He whispered so that nobody would hear him."
- Using "in order to" to express purpose, e.g., "I am studying hard in order to pass the exam."
- Using "for + noun/gerund" to express purpose, e.g., "She is taking Spanish classes for her job."
Ways of Expressing Ability
- Using "can" to express ability, e.g., "He can read Arabic."
- Using "could" to express past ability, e.g., "He could read Arabic when he was four."
- Using "is able to" to express ability, e.g., "She's able to run a marathon."
- Using "was able to" to express past ability, e.g., (no example provided)
Ways of Expressing Possibility
- Using "can" to express possibility, e.g., "He can win the race."
- Using "could" or "could have" to express possibility, e.g., "They could still be at school." or "She could have been killed in the car crash."
- Using "may" or "may have" to express possibility, e.g., "Tom may be studying in his room." or "He may have spoken to Jenny yesterday."
- Using "might" or "might have" to express possibility, e.g., "He might have forgotten."
- Using "it is likely" or "it was likely" to express possibility, e.g., "It was likely that he had arrived the day before."
Ways of Expressing Probability
- Using "should" to express probability, e.g., (no example provided)
- Using "should have" to express probability, e.g., (no example provided)
- Using "ought to" to express probability, e.g., (no example provided)
- Using "ought to have" to express probability, e.g., (no example provided)
Ways of Expressing Logical Assumption
- Using "must" to express strong possibility, e.g., "She must be working." (90% certain - positive)
- Using "can't" to express strong impossibility, e.g., "She can't be over forty." (negative)
- Using "couldn't" to express strong impossibility, e.g., "He couldn't be at work." (negative)
- Using "must have" to express strong possibility, e.g., "She must have been working." (positive)
- Using "can't have" to express strong impossibility, e.g., "She can't have stolen the money." (negative)
- Using "couldn't have" to express strong impossibility, e.g., "He couldn't have been at work yesterday." (negative)
Ways of Expressing Permission
- Using "can" or "can't" to express permission, e.g., "You can/can't borrow my car."
- Using "could" to ask for permission, e.g., "Could I use your phone?" (more polite)
- Using "may" to give permission, e.g., "You may use the phone." (formal)
- Using "might" to ask for permission, e.g., "Might I speak to Mr Jones, please?" (more formal)
- Using "be allowed" to express permission, e.g., "He wasn't allowed to/couldn't cross the border."
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of ways to express the future in English, including present continuous, present simple, will, be going to, and should.