Expressing Future Probability in English

Hello, English learners. Welcome to a new lesson. Expressing future probability in English is an important skill if you want to sound natural and precise. In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about what is likely, unlikely, possible, or certain to happen in the future using useful words, phrases, and modal verbs.

This is a very useful area of English because we often talk about the future in an uncertain way. After all, nobody has a crystal ball — though English does give us plenty of handy expressions.

In this lesson, we will look at:

• probably
• likely / unlikely
• it looks like / it looks as if / it seems
• certainly / definitely / undoubtedly
• there is no doubt / without a doubt
• bound to / inevitable
• no chance / fat chance
• opinion phrases such as I’m sure, I think, I expect, I doubt it
• modal verbs such as could, may, might, will

Let’s take them one by one.

1. Probably

Probably is an adverb we use when we think something is likely to happen.

Examples:

• Look at those clouds. It’s probably going to rain tonight.
• I haven’t studied much, so I’ll probably fail the exam.
• She’ll probably call you when she arrives.

Probably is one of the most common and natural ways to talk about future possibility in everyday English.

2. Likely / Unlikely

Likely means that something will probably happen.

Unlikely means that something probably won’t happen.

Examples:

• His latest novel is likely to become a bestseller.
• It’s likely that we’ll be late if we don’t leave now.
• She is unlikely to agree to that idea.
• It’s unlikely that the weather will improve this afternoon.

You can use likely in two common patterns:

• be likely to + infinitive
  • We are likely to see some changes soon.
• it is likely that + clause
  • It is likely that prices will rise next year.

3. It looks like / It looks as if / It seems

We use these expressions when the present situation suggests what will happen in the future.

Examples:

• It looks like the bus isn’t coming any time soon.
• It looks as if we’ll have to cancel the picnic.
• It seems that he won’t be joining us after all.
• The road is completely blocked, so it looks like we’ll be stuck here for a while.

These phrases are especially useful when you are making a prediction based on what you can see or know now.

4. Certainly / Definitely

We use certainly and definitely when we want to express strong certainty about the future.

Examples:

• Don’t worry — I’ll definitely come to your birthday party.
• She’ll certainly notice the difference.
• If you keep practising, you’ll definitely improve.
• This decision will certainly affect the whole team.

Both words show a high degree of confidence, although definitely is more common in everyday speech.

5. Undoubtedly / There is no doubt / Without a doubt

These expressions show very strong certainty.

Examples:

• There is no doubt that the company will expand.
• He will undoubtedly be remembered as a great leader.
• Without a doubt, this change will influence the way we work.
• There is no doubt that she’ll do well in the exam.

These are excellent expressions for more formal English and advanced writing.

6. Bound to / Inevitable

If something is bound to happen, it is almost certain to happen.

If something is inevitable, it cannot be avoided.

Examples:

• After all that practice, she’s bound to succeed.
• With prices rising so quickly, more changes are bound to follow.
• It’s inevitable that you’ll make mistakes when you start something new.
• Some degree of stress is inevitable before an important exam.

Bound to is common in everyday speech, while inevitable sounds slightly more formal.

7. No chance / Fat chance

These expressions show that something is very unlikely or impossible.

Examples:

• We have no chance of finishing on time without more help.
• There’s no chance she’ll agree to that.
• “Do you think you’ll have a quiet weekend?”
  “Fat chance!”

A small warning here: fat chance is informal and often ironic. In context, it usually means almost no chance at all.

8. Opinion Verbs and Phrases

We often express future probability through personal opinion.

Common phrases include:

• I’m sure…
• I think…
• I don’t think…
• I expect…
• I doubt it.
• I don’t doubt that…
• I would say…
• I’d think…

Examples:

• I’m sure your son will become a great pianist.
• I think it’ll rain later.
• I don’t think they’ll accept the offer.
• We expect the weather to change by the evening.
• I doubt there will be any major problems.
• I’d say she’ll probably get the job.

These phrases are especially useful because they allow you to sound natural and flexible rather than overly direct.

9. Modal Verbs: Could, May, Might, Will

Modal verbs are one of the most important ways of expressing future probability.

Could

We use could to say that something is possible.

• Jack is coming to town. He could visit us tomorrow.
• The journey could take longer than expected.

May

We use may to express possibility.

• Sally may be late for the meeting.
• It may rain this afternoon.

Might

Might also expresses possibility, often slightly more uncertain than may.

• We might go on holiday to Spain this summer.
• He might decide to stay at home instead.

Will

We use will when we believe something is likely or certain to happen.

• If things continue at this pace, the company will make a big profit.
• I’m sure she will understand.

A Quick Note on Degrees of Probability

Not all these expressions show the same level of certainty. Compare them:

Weak possibility:

• could
• may
• might

Medium probability:

• probably
• likely
• I think
• it looks like

Strong probability / certainty:

• definitely
• certainly
• there is no doubt
• undoubtedly
• bound to
• inevitable

Learning these differences will help you express yourself more precisely and naturally.

Common Patterns for Expressing Future Probability in English

Here are some very useful sentence patterns:

• It will probably + verb
  • It will probably take longer than expected.
• be likely to + verb
  • She is likely to arrive late.
• It looks like + clause
  • It looks like we’re going to miss the train.
• be bound to + verb
  • They are bound to notice the mistake.
• There is no doubt that + clause
  • There is no doubt that things will change.
• may / might / could + infinitive
  • We might see him later.

Final Thoughts

When we talk about the future, we often need to show how certain or uncertain we are. That is why expressions of future probability are so important in English. They help us make predictions, give opinions, and talk about what we expect to happen in a natural and accurate way.

The most useful thing you can do now is notice these expressions when you read or listen to English, and then start using them in your own speaking and writing. The more you use them, the more confident and fluent you will become.

In Summary

In this lesson, we looked at common ways of expressing future probability in English, including:

• probably
• likely / unlikely
• it looks like / it looks as if / it seems
• certainly / definitely / undoubtedly
• there is no doubt / without a doubt
• bound to / inevitable
• no chance / fat chance
• opinion phrases such as I’m sure, I think, I expect, I doubt
• modal verbs such as could, may, might, will

FAQ 

These can help you target longer search phrases naturally.

What is future probability in English?
Future probability in English means talking about how likely or unlikely something is to happen in the future.

Which modal verbs express future probability?
The most common modal verbs for future probability are may, might, could, and will.

What words can I use to express future probability in English?
You can use words and phrases such as probably, likely, unlikely, definitely, certainly, bound to, and there is no doubt.

Related posts:

Modal Verbs of Speculation

Modal Verbs of Probability

Ways to Express Certainty in English 

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