Predictions& Possibilities
will / might / may · the future world
CEFR Pathway · You are here
Warm-up · Section 1
5 minGet talking
Tell your partner ONE thing about your life that will probably change in the next 10 years.
Make one bold prediction about the world (technology, climate, sport, music). Your partner must react: agree, disagree or hedge.
Three things that MIGHT happen this evening — and one that DEFINITELY won't.
Grammar focus · Section 2
8–10 minwill / might / may — predicting with confidence (or not)
Use 'will / won't' for predictions you feel confident about ('AI will change every job').
→ I think prices will keep rising.
→ She might come to the party — she hasn't decided.
→ We may not have time, but we'll try.
→ I'll probably stay home tonight. / I probably won't stay long.
→ I doubt he'll remember. / I'm sure she'll love it.
More detail
Use 'might / may + verb' for possibilities — 50% or less ('It might rain later'). Soften further with 'probably', 'possibly', 'I doubt', 'I'm sure'. Position matters: 'I'll probably go' (after will) / 'I probably won't go' (before won't).
Question 1.She's exhausted — she ____ (not / come) tonight.
Question 2.I'm sure you ____ (love) the new café — it's exactly your style.
Question 3.We ____ (go) to the beach tomorrow — depends on the weather.
Question 4.I ____ probably ____ (be) late, sorry!
Question 5.He ____ (pass) the exam — he hasn't studied at all.
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Which sentence shows LOW certainty?
Vocabulary · Section 3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
Don't just read these — say one out loud, then use it about your life.
to predict
to say what you think will happen
"Experts predict prices will rise."
Predict one thing about your country in 2030.
likely / unlikely
probably true / probably not true
"It's likely we'll work remotely more."
Name one likely and one unlikely thing about next year.
in the (near) future
in a time soon to come
"In the near future, AI will write most emails."
Finish: 'In the near future, I'll…'
no doubt
certainly, definitely
"No doubt the technology will improve."
Finish: 'No doubt, in 5 years…'
chances are…
it's likely that…
"Chances are it'll rain at the weekend."
Finish: 'Chances are, by 2030…'
to bet (informal)
to be quite sure something is true
"I bet she gets the job."
Make a friendly bet about something next week.
to take over
to gain control of something / replace
"Robots are taking over warehouse work."
What job do you think AI will take over first?
to die out
to gradually disappear
"Many physical bookshops are dying out."
What do you think will die out in 10 years?
Discuss with a partner
- →Predict 3 things about your country in 2030.
- →Which jobs will die out first? Which will boom?
Finish the sentence about you
- Chances are, …
- I bet …
- It's unlikely that …
Rank & justify
Rank from most → least likely to happen in 10 years.
- fully self-driving cars
- 4-day work week everywhere
- cash disappears
- AI teachers in schools
60-second write
Write 3 predictions about your life in 5 years using bet, chances are and no doubt.
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · Section 4
3–4 minContraction 'll and weak 'might'
- • I'll probably go → /aɪl ˈprɒbəbli ɡəʊ/
- • She'll love it → /ʃiːl lʌv ɪt/
- • It might rain → /ɪt maɪt reɪn/
- • We might not stay → /wi maɪt nɒt steɪ/
How to say it
'I will' is rarely said in full — it almost always becomes 'I'll' /aɪl/. 'Might' is reduced too: /maɪt/ with a soft, short vowel. Practise both: students who say full 'I will' in conversation sound robotic.
Reading · Section 5
8–10 minThree guesses about 2040
Nobody really knows what the world will look like in 15 years, but some predictions feel safer than others. Most experts agree that AI will change almost every job — chances are, your role will exist in a very different shape. Cities will probably be greener: more cycle paths, fewer petrol cars, more shared spaces. Some traditional skills, like reading paper maps or writing in cursive, might quietly die out. On the other hand, predictions about flying cars and four-day weeks have been around for 50 years and still haven't fully arrived. The honest answer is: some big things will definitely change, and some small things absolutely won't.
Question 1.What does the writer feel most confident about?
Question 2.What is described as likely?
Question 3.What is the overall tone of the passage?
Q1.The writer is sure flying cars will arrive by 2040.
Q2.AI is predicted to change most jobs.
Q3.All traditional skills will survive.
Listening · Section 6
8–10 minThe job interview question
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Interviewer:So, last question: where do you think you'll be in five years?
Candidate:Honestly? I'm not 100% sure, but I think I'll still be working in design — just in a more senior role.
Interviewer:And in this industry?
Candidate:Probably, yes. I might move into product strategy though — that's where things are heading.
Interviewer:Interesting. And outside of work?
Candidate:Chances are I'll still be in this city. I doubt I'll move abroad again — once was enough! But I'll definitely keep travelling for fun.
Question 1.How sure is the candidate about staying in design?
Question 2.What might the candidate do in the future?
Question 3.How does the candidate feel about moving abroad again?
Exam skills · Section 7
5 minCambridge PET — Speaking Part 4: discussion
Task
Discuss with a partner what life might be like in the future. Show a range of certainty — don't only say 'maybe'.
Strategy
Use the FULL ladder: 'I'm sure…' → 'I think…will' → 'probably' → 'might' → 'I doubt…'. Examiners reward range. Also: AGREE or PUSH BACK — 'I'm not sure I agree, actually…'
Example
'I'm fairly sure cars will be electric by 2035. People might still drive petrol cars in some countries, but chances are most cities will ban them. I doubt flying cars will be a real thing though.'
Practice · Section 8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.It's cloudy — it ____ (rain), but I'm not sure.
Question 2.Don't worry, you ____ love your new flat. I'm sure of it.
Question 3.____ are, the meeting will run late again.
Question 4.Honestly, I ____ (doubt) he'll call back.
Question 5.She probably ____ (come) — she's exhausted.
Q1.Correct: 'I think it will probably to rain.'
Q2.Make less certain: 'She will come tonight.' →
Q3.Reorder: 'probably / I / won't / long / stay'
Writing · Section 9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 90-word answer to: 'What will the world look like in 2040?' Make at least 4 predictions using a mix of 'will', 'probably', 'might' and 'I doubt'. End with one bold opinion.
Show model answer
By 2040, the world will definitely look different — but maybe less dramatically than people predict. AI will probably do a huge part of office work, so chances are most of us will spend less time in front of screens. Cars will be mostly electric, and cities might be quieter and greener. Some traditional jobs will die out, but new ones we can't imagine yet will take over. I doubt we'll all be working four-day weeks though — that's been promised for decades. Honestly, the biggest changes will probably surprise everyone.
Speaking · Section 10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
PREDICTION POKER: Pairs. Teacher gives 5 prediction prompts (e.g. 'You will work for the same company in 5 years'). Each student rates their certainty 1–5 and explains WHY using a different prediction phrase each time. Bonus point for disagreeing politely with their partner.
Useful phrases
- • Chances are…
- • I'm fairly sure…
- • I doubt that, actually.
- • It might happen, but…
- • I'll bet you…
- • I'm not so sure — I think…
- ADo you think you'll still be living here in five years?
- B_______________
- ADo you think AI will take your job?
- B_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Push students to disagree politely — predictions are perfect for opinion gaps. ~22 min total
Homework · Section 11
Take-homeTake it home
Record yourself making 5 predictions about your country in 10 years — use 5 different certainty markers.
Write 6 sentences predicting your own life next year. Use a mix of will / might / probably.
Find a 2-min news clip in English; note every prediction word/phrase you hear.
Recap · Section 12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- 'will' = confident prediction. 'might / may' = possibility.
- Soften with 'probably' (after 'will', before 'won't').
- Range your certainty: I'm sure → probably → might → I doubt.
- Contract 'will' → 'll in speech; 'I will go' sounds robotic.
- Prediction chunks ('chances are', 'no doubt', 'I bet') sound very natural.