🔮 Lesson 3.2: 'Will' & 'Might' — Predictions & Decisions

In the last lesson you learned going to for plans you have already made. Now we talk about the future in more ways. Use will to say what you think will happen, to decide something right now, and to offer help. Use might to say "maybe" — when you are not sure. Let's look ahead! 🔭

📚 What You'll Learn

By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Use will / won't + base verb for predictions, instant decisions, offers and promises
Use might to talk about a future possibility (when you're not sure)
Feel the difference between will and going to (a light contrast)
Ask questions with will: "Will you be there?"

⏱️ Estimated Time: 50–55 minutes

🎯 Project: Make 6 or more predictions about your future and the world — using will, won't, and might.

In This Lesson

Looking Into the Future

English has more than one way to talk about the future. Each way is a little different. In Lesson 3.1 you learned going to — the future you have already planned: "I'm going to visit my aunt on Sunday."

This lesson adds two more words:

will — for what you think will happen (a prediction), for a choice you make right now, and for offers and promises.
might — for something that is only possible. You are not sure, so you keep it open.

Both are modal verbs. Here is the good news: they never change. The same will works for I, you, he, she, we, and they. No -s, no to, no problems. 🎉

🧠 Mindset

Nobody can see the future — and that is why English gives you might. You do not need to be sure to speak! People guess and predict all the time. If you are not sure, make the sentence softer with might or I think. Saying "maybe" in English is a real skill, not a weak point. 🌱

The Form of 'Will'

Here is the pattern: subject + will + base verb. The base verb is the plain form — go, rain, help, be — with no -s and no to. It is the same for every person.

Subject	will + base verb	Contraction ('ll)
I	I will go	I'll go
you	you will go	you'll go
he / she / it	she will go	she'll go
we	we will go	we'll go
they	they will go	they'll go

The negative is won't ( = will not) — again, the same for everyone:

Positive	Negative (won't)
It will rain tomorrow.	It won't rain tomorrow.
They will be late.	They won't be late.
I will forget.	I won't forget.

✅ Pro Tip

After will, always use the base verb. Say "She will come," not "She will comes" or "She will to come." Modal verbs like will keep the next verb plain and simple.

Read these aloud to feel the natural 'll in speech:

I think it 'll be sunny tomorrow. You 'll love the movie. We 'll be there at eight. Don't worry — I won't forget.

Three Uses of 'Will'

Why do we use will? There are three common reasons. Here they are.

Use	Meaning	Examples
1. Prediction / opinion	What you think will happen in the future	I think it will rain later. You 'll love this restaurant. He won't pass the exam.
2. Instant decision	A decision made at the moment of speaking	I'm tired — I 'll go to bed. The phone's ringing. I 'll get it! OK, I 'll have the pizza.
3. Offer / promise	Offering to help, or promising to do something	That bag looks heavy — I 'll carry it. I 'll call you tomorrow, I promise. Don't worry, we 'll help you.

💡 Notice the "right now" feeling

Uses 2 and 3 both happen right now. You did not plan to answer the phone — you decide as it rings. That "I decide now" feeling is the key to will. If you made the plan before you spoke, use going to instead (more on that below).

Here is a short scene. All three uses are in it:

A: The movie starts in ten minutes and I can't find my phone!
B: Don't panic — I'll help you look for it.
A: Thanks. Do you think we'll be late?
B: No, I think it'll be fine. There it is! I'll get it for you.
A: You're a lifesaver. I'll buy the popcorn, then.
B: Deal! I might get a lemonade too — I'm not sure yet.

'Might' — Maybe, Not Sure

Use might + base verb when something is possible but not sure. It is an easy, polite way to say "maybe." Like will, it is the same for every person and takes the base verb.

Form	Example	Idea
subject + might + base verb	I might go to the party.	Maybe yes, maybe no — I'm not sure.
same for all persons	She might be late.	It's possible she'll be late.
negative: might not	We might not come.	Maybe we won't come.

✅ Pro Tip

Might works just like will: no -s, no to. Say "He might come," not "He might comes" or "He might to come." For the negative, we usually keep the full form might not. We do not often make it shorter in everyday speech.

Compare how sure the speaker is:

Sentence	How sure?
It will rain tomorrow.	Sure — a confident prediction. ☔
It might rain tomorrow.	Not sure — it's just possible. 🌤️
It won't rain tomorrow.	Sure it won't. ☀️

Say these sentences out loud. Notice how easy and honest might sounds:

I might visit my cousin this weekend — I haven't decided. We might not have time. She might call later, or she might text. Who knows? 🤷

Questions with 'Will'

To ask a question, put will at the front, before the subject: Will + subject + base verb? Short answers use just will or won't.

Question	Short answer (yes)	Short answer (no)
Will you be there?	Yes, I will.	No, I won't.
Will it work?	Yes, it will.	No, it won't.
Will they come?	Yes, they will.	No, they won't.

To ask for more, add a Wh- word before will:

What will you do? Where will you go? When will they arrive? Who will help us? How will you get there?

⚠️ Important Note: In a short answer, do not make the yes form shorter. Say "Yes, I will." — never "Yes, I'll." But we do make the negative shorter: "No, I won't."

'Will' vs 'Going To'

People often ask: "When do I use will, and when do I use going to?" Here is one simple idea.

💡 The quick rule

going to = a plan you made before now (or something you can see is coming): "I'm going to paint my room this weekend." (I decided yesterday.) · "Look at those clouds — it's going to rain." (you can see it)
will = a prediction or a choice you make as you speak: "I think it 'll be a good year." (opinion) · "You've dropped your pen — I'll pick it up." (deciding now)

Do not worry too much about this. In everyday talk, both are often fine. Just remember: plan → going to, prediction or a choice you make right now → will.

🔊 Hear It & Repeat — Model Sentences

Listen to each model sentence, then say it back. Use the 🎧 Audio control (bottom-right) to pick a UK or US voice and make the speed slower. These sentences use will and might for predictions and quick decisions.

I think it will rain tomorrow.
I'll help you with the bags.
She might come to the party.
We might go to the beach on Sunday.
I'm hungry, so I'll make a sandwich.

Practice & Project

Before the exercises, here is a phrase bank of useful words for predictions. Add them to your sentences:

I think… I'm sure… probably maybe in the future one day

🏋️ Exercise 1: will or won't?

Objective: Fill the gap with will or won't to match the meaning.

Don't worry, I forget your birthday. (promise — I'm sure I won't)
I think our team win — they're the best! (positive prediction)
It's always cloudy here in winter, so I'm sure it be sunny tomorrow. (negative prediction)
That's heavy — I carry it for you. (offer)
He's always late, so he probably be on time. (negative prediction)

✅ Answer

1. won't · 2. will · 3. won't · 4. will · 5. won't

🏋️ Exercise 2: will (decision/offer) or going to (plan)?

Objective: Read each situation and choose will or going to.

You already decided last week to visit Rome in July. → "I ___ visit Rome in July."
The phone rings. You decide to answer it now. → "I ___ answer it."
Your friend's bags are heavy. You offer to help right now. → "I ___ help you."
You planned this morning to cook pasta tonight. → "I ___ cook pasta tonight."
A friend asks about your team's big game next month. You give your opinion. → "I think we ___ win." (opinion about the future — no evidence now)

✅ Answer

1. am going to (a plan already decided) · 2. will ('ll) (instant decision) · 3. will ('ll) (offer) · 4. am going to (a plan already decided) · 5. will ('ll) (a prediction based on your opinion — I think… — not on something you can see now. If you could see evidence, like dark clouds, you would use going to.)

🏋️ Exercise 3: make it less certain with 'might'

Objective: Rewrite each sure sentence as a possibility using might.

Example: I will go to the party. → I might go to the party.

We will travel next summer.
She will be at the meeting.
They will move to a new city.
It won't rain. (make it "possibly won't")

✅ Answer

1. We might travel next summer. · 2. She might be at the meeting. · 3. They might move to a new city. · 4. It might not rain.

🎯 Your Project: 6 Predictions

Speak out loud — to a partner, in class, or into your phone's recorder. Make 6 or more predictions about your future or the world.

(3 min) Make 2 confident predictions with will (e.g. "In the future, more people will work from home.").
(3 min) Make 2 predictions with won't (e.g. "One day, cars won't need drivers.").
(3 min) Make 2 possibilities with might (e.g. "I might learn a new language next year — I'm not sure.").
(2 min) Use at least two phrase-bank words: I think, I'm sure, probably, maybe, in the future, one day.
(1 min) If you recorded yourself, listen back. Did you use the base verb after will and might? Did you say won't clearly?

✅ Project Completion Checklist

☐ I made 6+ predictions in total
☐ I used will for confident predictions
☐ I used won't at least twice
☐ I used might for things I'm not sure about
☐ I added phrase-bank words like probably or I think

🎯 Quick Quiz

Question 1: Complete: "___ you be at the party?" — "No, I ___."

Question 2: You planned this last week: a trip to the beach on Saturday. Which is best?

Tips & Common Mistakes

✅ Do's

Use the base verb after will and might: "She will come," "He might be late."
Use 'll and won't when you speak — they sound natural.
Use might when you are not sure — it is better than guessing with will.
Remember: plan → going to, prediction or a choice you make right now → will.

❌ Common Mistakes

⚠️ Watch Out

"She will comes." ❌ → "She will come." ✅ (no -s after a modal).
"I will to help." ❌ → "I will help." ✅ (no to after will).
Do not drop 'll and won't when you speak — they give the future meaning. won't is said /woʊnt/ (it rhymes with "don't"), not "wont" like "want".
"I might to go." ❌ → "I might go." ✅ (might also takes the base verb).

📓 Learning Journal

Keep your learning journal going. After this lesson, take a few minutes to write down:

Key concepts you learned
Things that clicked for you
Questions or confusion points to revisit
Ideas you want to try
Your progress and feelings about talking about the future

✍️ This lesson's prompt: Write three predictions about your life five years from now — one with will, one with won't, and one with might. For example, "I think I will speak English well. I won't live in the same apartment. I might have a new job." Notice how might lets you dream, with no promise.

📝 Lesson Summary

🎓 Key Takeaways

will + base verb — same for every person; contraction 'll, negative won't.
Use will for predictions, instant decisions, and offers/promises.
Use might + base verb for a possibility when you're not sure (negative might not).
Questions put will at the front: "Will you be there?" → "Yes, I will / No, I won't."
Plan → going to; prediction or on-the-spot decision → will.

🎉 What You've Accomplished

You can now talk about tomorrow — and you can be honest about it. With will you predict, decide, and promise. With might you keep things open when you are not sure. With going to from the last lesson too, you now have a full set of words for the future. That is real, useful English. 🔮

❓ Common Questions at This Stage

Is there really no difference between "will" for I, you, he, she, we, they?

Correct — will never changes. That is one of the nice things about modal verbs. It is the same for might. Learn one form and you know them all.

What's the difference between "might" and "maybe … will"?

They mean almost the same thing! "I might come" ≈ "Maybe I'll come." Both show it is possible but not sure. Use the one that feels easy — just do not use both at once.

Do I really have to choose perfectly between "will" and "going to"?

No — in everyday talk, both are often fine, and people mix them all the time. Follow the simple rule (plan → going to, prediction or decision → will), and people will understand you every time. Do not let it slow down your speaking.

🔭 Looking Ahead

You can now plan (going to), predict (will), and leave room for maybe (might). In Lesson 3.3, we will look at future arrangements and suggestions — how to say what you have planned with other people, and how to make friendly suggestions like "Let's…" and "Shall we…?"

✅ Before the Next Lesson

Say five predictions about next year using will / won't / might.
Practice three offers with I'll… (e.g. "I'll open the door.").
Write your Learning Journal entry for this lesson.

🌟 Encouragement for the Journey

Nobody knows the future — but now you can talk about it in English! Every prediction you make, every "I'll help you," every honest "I might," brings you closer to speaking freely. Keep dreaming out loud. See you in Lesson 3.3! 👋