Exact words
Read out the prediction you found. Do not paraphrase it — the exact words are the whole point.
Then, as a class, count how many of them contained the word will with nothing softening it.
Eight ways of not quite committing. Match each to the job it does.
Three people who predict for a living
A weather forecaster
There is a good chance of rain in the west after about four o’clock. It looks like the front will clear overnight, but it could stall — that has happened twice this month.
I would not go out without a coat. That is about as far as I will go.
An economist on the radio
My guess is that prices will keep rising through the spring, and then flatten. I could be wrong. Two years ago I said the opposite and I was wrong then.
What I would say with more confidence is that nothing dramatic happens quickly. Whatever changes, it changes slowly.
A city planner at a public meeting
If the funding comes through, work starts in 2029. If it does not, we go back to the beginning.
People ask me whether the line will open on time. It is hard to say. When we have the geological survey, we will know a great deal more than we know tonight.
Five questions about the three speakers. All of them are about how the language works.
1. All three are experts. How many of them use definitely?
2. The economist says I could be wrong and then gives an example of being wrong. What does that do?
3. If the funding comes through, work starts in 2029. Why comes and not will come?
4. When we have the geological survey, we will know more. Why when rather than if?
5. People ask me whether the line will open on time. Why not whether will the line open?
Say these out loud. will almost never gets its own syllable in speech.
I’ll /aɪl/ · he’ll /hiːl/ · they’ll /ðeɪl/ · it’ll /ˈɪtl/ · that’ll /ˈðætl/ · there’ll /ðeəl/
And the pair that causes real trouble: won’t is /wəʊnt/, with the vowel of go. want is /wɒnt/, with the vowel of hot. Two different words, and confusing them reverses your meaning.
When, if, and the present that means the future
The rule with no exceptions
| After | Use | Not |
|---|---|---|
when | When I get home, I’ll call you. | |
if | If it rains, we’ll stay in. | |
as soon as | As soon as she arrives, we’ll start. | |
until | I’ll wait until you finish. | |
before / after | I’ll ring you before I leave. | |
whether (in a statement) | I don’t know whether it will rain. | Here will is fine — it is not a time clause |
When or if? Both take the present. They differ in how sure you are that the thing happens at all.
When I finish this course… — I am going to finish it.
If I finish this course… — I might not.
Saying if to somebody about their own plans is not neutral. If you pass the exam and when you pass the exam are two very different things to say to a student.
One to three words per gap. Some gaps want the present; some want will. Decide which part of the sentence you are in.
I you as soon as I anything. When the survey back, we a great deal more. If the funding through, work in 2029.
Hedging on purpose
Seven sentences. Six have will where the present belongs, or the reverse. One is correct.
1. When I will see her, I will ask.
2. If the bus will be late, we take a taxi.
3. I wait here until you will come back.
4. As soon as it will stop raining, we go out.
5. I don’t know whether she will come.
6. Before I will leave, I will call you.
7. After the shop will close, the street is empty.
One prediction, said five ways, plus one that is not a prediction at all. Match each to what the speaker has committed to.
Be the expert
Task card · Speaking · Groups of three · 4 minutes each
You are the expert being interviewed. Your subject is anything you genuinely know something about — your job, your city, your sport, your industry.
Two minutes of predictions about your subject, then two minutes of questions from the others.
- Hedge at least four times. Use four different hedges from the warm-up.
- One prediction has to be stated with real confidence — and you have to give the evidence.
- One has to be an admission that you do not know.
- Use at least two time clauses: when…, if…, as soon as…
Interviewers’ job. Two questions each, and both must start Do you think…, What do you think… or Do you know whether…
Write each question down before you ask it. The word order is the thing being practised, and you will get it wrong in your head first.
The questions you wrote
Four questions from the task. Fix each.
1. Do you think will the port close?
2. What do you think what will happen next?
3. Do you know whether will they build it?
4. Why you think the rents go up?
Two rules to carry
Two questions.
1. Experts predicting in public hedge constantly. Why?
2. I’ll wait until you ___ .
Before next lesson. Write three predictions about your own city, town or street — one certain, one possible, one you are ruling out.
Bring them written down. They become your portfolio piece, and next lesson we take them apart.