Questions and Answers
What is the correct way to express a scheduled event in the future?
Which modal verb is used to express a strong possibility?
What is the correct way to express a plan or intention in the future?
Which of the following is used to express permission?
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What is the correct way to express a future action with the purpose of achieving something?
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Which of the following is used to express a past ability?
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What is the correct way to express a possibility in the future?
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Which of the following is used to express a logical assumption about the past?
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What is the correct way to express a future arrangement?
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Which of the following is used to express a future possibility?
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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."
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Description
Test your knowledge of ways to express the future in English, including present continuous, present simple, will, be going to, and should.