Future probability

Future probability

 Will: to talk about something that is definite or a very strong probability

 Could, may, might: used to talk about something which that is possible, but not
certain
 Other phrases for describing possibility
 adverbs-adverbial phrases
 it will almost definitely
 it almost definitely won’t
 presumably it will
 Verb phrases
 it may well
 it might well
 I doubt
 Adjectives / Adjectival phrases
 It’s bound to
 certain to
 sure to
 unlikely to
 Noun  phrases
 The chances are that
 There’s a strong / slight possibility
 You haven’t a hope of -ing

 Sure to happen:
 it will almost definitely
 presumably it will
 Likely to happen
 The chances are that…
 there is a strong possibility…
 it may / might well
 Unlikely to happen
 There’s a slight / remote possibility that…
 I doubt whether…
 It probably won’t…
 Impossible
 You haven’t a hope of …-ing
 It is inconceivable that…

Examples: (text: “how to be a superhero)

 There is every chance that this system could allow people to walk up walls 
 Presumably, it’ll also help scientists to better understand muscle-wasting diseases
 Once shielded by the force field, there is very little chance that the tanks can be
destroyed
 The victim caught in the net stands no chance of escape
 These crime-stopping devices are bound to cause some sticky problems for New York
criminals
 It is doubtful that we will be able to achieve this in the foreseable future
 There is a distinct possibility that genetics could help those seeking a Hulk-like physic
 There is every likelihood that the procedure could eventually be commonly used to
grow organs for transplants
 There is a slim chance that the scientific material obtained during the process would
result in further complications
 Researchers have looked into the possibility of using spinning discs to defy gravity
 It is unlikely that it could be used for macroscopic objects