Discuss uncertain or potential future events.
Unit 50 – Future possibilities (A2)
Introduction
In real life, we often talk about the future without being 100% sure. Maybe you will travel next month, maybe your friend will change jobs, or maybe it will rain later. In this unit, you will learn how to speak about uncertain or possible future events in a clear and natural way.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: talk about future possibilities using may, might, and could; ask and answer about uncertain plans; use common time expressions for the future; and avoid typical mistakes with these modal verbs.
1) Talking about possibility in the future: may / might / could
When we think something is possible in the future (but not certain), we often use may, might, or could + base verb.
Important concept
may / might / could + verb expresses possibility, not certainty.
Examples: I may go out tonight. She might call later. We could visit our grandparents next weekend.
In many everyday situations, may and might are very similar. Might often sounds a little less sure, but at A2 level you can use them in the same way.
We also use these verbs when we are thinking aloud, making a careful prediction, or giving a gentle suggestion:
It might be cold tomorrow. You may need a jacket. We could take the train if the traffic is bad.
2) Form: positive, negative, and questions
Positive: subject + may/might/could + base verb
They may arrive late. / I might stay at home. / He could meet us after work.
Negative: subject + may not / might not / could not + base verb
She may not come to the party. / We might not have time. / It could not work in winter.
Questions: In conversation, questions with might and may exist, but they are less common. At A2 level, it is often more natural to ask with Do you think…? or Is it possible…?
Do you think you might travel this summer? / Is it possible that he may be late?
Short answers are also possible:
Yes, I might. / No, I might not.
3) Possibility vs. certainty: will vs. may/might/could
Use will when you feel sure or when you decide now. Use may/might/could when you are not sure.
Compare:
I will call you tonight. (I am sure.)
I might call you tonight. (It is possible, but not certain.)
This difference helps you sound honest and realistic. When you use possibility language, you show that plans can change.
4) Common time expressions for future possibility
These expressions often appear with future possibilities:
later, tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, next week, in a few days, soon, one day
Examples:
I might see him later. / We may go to the beach this weekend. / She could start her new job next month.
5) Typical mistakes to avoid
Warning
Do not add to after may/might/could.
Correct: I might go. / Incorrect: I might to go.
Warning
Do not change the verb form after may/might/could. Use the base verb.
Correct: She may come. / Incorrect: She may comes.
Also remember: could can mean possibility, but it can also mean ability in the past. In this unit, we focus on future possibility:
We could go by taxi. (possible plan for the future)
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence with may, might, or could. Then check the answer.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) I ________ visit my cousin next weekend, but I’m not sure. | I might visit my cousin next weekend, but I’m not sure. |
| 2) It ________ rain later, so take an umbrella. | It may rain later, so take an umbrella. |
| 3) We ________ go to the cinema tonight, or we can stay home. | We could go to the cinema tonight, or we can stay home. |
| 4) She ________ not answer now. She’s in a meeting. | She might not answer now. She’s in a meeting. |
| 5) My parents ________ come for dinner tomorrow, but they have a lot of work. | My parents may come for dinner tomorrow, but they have a lot of work. |
| 6) He ________ be late because the bus is often slow. | He could be late because the bus is often slow. |
| 7) I ________ buy a new phone soon. Mine is very old. | I might buy a new phone soon. Mine is very old. |
| 8) They ________ not travel this summer. Tickets are expensive. | They may not travel this summer. Tickets are expensive. |
| 9) Do you think you ________ have time to help me later? | Do you think you might have time to help me later? |
| 10) We ________ take the train if the traffic is bad. | We could take the train if the traffic is bad. |
Unit 50 – Future possibilities (A2)
Introduction
In real life, we often talk about the future without being 100% sure. Maybe you will travel next month, maybe your friend will change jobs, or maybe it will rain later. In this unit, you will learn how to speak about uncertain or possible future events in a clear and natural way.
Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
By the end of this unit, you will be able to: talk about future possibilities using may, might, and could; ask and answer about uncertain plans; use common time expressions for the future; and avoid typical mistakes with these modal verbs.
1) Talking about possibility in the future: may / might / could
When we think something is possible in the future (but not certain), we often use may, might, or could + base verb.
Important concept
may / might / could + verb expresses possibility, not certainty.
Examples: I may go out tonight. She might call later. We could visit our grandparents next weekend.
In many everyday situations, may and might are very similar. Might often sounds a little less sure, but at A2 level you can use them in the same way.
We also use these verbs when we are thinking aloud, making a careful prediction, or giving a gentle suggestion:
It might be cold tomorrow. You may need a jacket. We could take the train if the traffic is bad.
2) Form: positive, negative, and questions
Positive: subject + may/might/could + base verb
They may arrive late. / I might stay at home. / He could meet us after work.
Negative: subject + may not / might not / could not + base verb
She may not come to the party. / We might not have time. / It could not work in winter.
Questions: In conversation, questions with might and may exist, but they are less common. At A2 level, it is often more natural to ask with Do you think…? or Is it possible…?
Do you think you might travel this summer? / Is it possible that he may be late?
Short answers are also possible:
Yes, I might. / No, I might not.
3) Possibility vs. certainty: will vs. may/might/could
Use will when you feel sure or when you decide now. Use may/might/could when you are not sure.
Compare:
I will call you tonight. (I am sure.)
I might call you tonight. (It is possible, but not certain.)
This difference helps you sound honest and realistic. When you use possibility language, you show that plans can change.
4) Common time expressions for future possibility
These expressions often appear with future possibilities:
later, tonight, tomorrow, this weekend, next week, in a few days, soon, one day
Examples:
I might see him later. / We may go to the beach this weekend. / She could start her new job next month.
5) Typical mistakes to avoid
Warning
Do not add to after may/might/could.
Correct: I might go. / Incorrect: I might to go.
Warning
Do not change the verb form after may/might/could. Use the base verb.
Correct: She may come. / Incorrect: She may comes.
Also remember: could can mean possibility, but it can also mean ability in the past. In this unit, we focus on future possibility:
We could go by taxi. (possible plan for the future)
Practice
Practice section
Complete each sentence with may, might, or could. Then check the answer.
| Exercise | Answer |
|---|---|
| 1) I ________ visit my cousin next weekend, but I’m not sure. | I might visit my cousin next weekend, but I’m not sure. |
| 2) It ________ rain later, so take an umbrella. | It may rain later, so take an umbrella. |
| 3) We ________ go to the cinema tonight, or we can stay home. | We could go to the cinema tonight, or we can stay home. |
| 4) She ________ not answer now. She’s in a meeting. | She might not answer now. She’s in a meeting. |
| 5) My parents ________ come for dinner tomorrow, but they have a lot of work. | My parents may come for dinner tomorrow, but they have a lot of work. |
| 6) He ________ be late because the bus is often slow. | He could be late because the bus is often slow. |
| 7) I ________ buy a new phone soon. Mine is very old. | I might buy a new phone soon. Mine is very old. |
| 8) They ________ not travel this summer. Tickets are expensive. | They may not travel this summer. Tickets are expensive. |
| 9) Do you think you ________ have time to help me later? | Do you think you might have time to help me later? |
| 10) We ________ take the train if the traffic is bad. | We could take the train if the traffic is bad. |
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