Prediction & Probability – BE 4 Unit 12 : Merger and Acquisition

A number of modal verbs are used to make predictions. The modal indicates the speaker’s degree of certainty.

The will be there by now. (100% certain)

They will not have any trouble finding our office, they have been here many times. (100% certain)

The must have arrived by now. (80% certain)

They cannot have arrived yet. (80% certain)

They should have arrived by now. (60% certain)

They may / could have arrived by now. (40% certain)

They might have arrived by now. (20% certain)

Conditional statements contain hypotheses about the way the future may turn out.

If we use solar power, we will probably save money.

If you tried harder, you would be able to do it.

The future perfect and the future continuous predict what will be in progress or will have been accomplished in the future.

By 2050, businessmen will be taking orders from the moon.

By 3000, scientist will have discovered how to transmit objects by electronic means.

There are a number of lexical expressions of likelihood. These include about to, bound to, going to.

He is tapping his glass – I think he is about to / going to make a speech.

She is bound to be late, she always is.

The following lexical phrases can be used to discuss the future: certain, probable, possible, unlikely, or impossible.

There is certain to be more changes in the world’s weather systems over the next few decades.

It is quite probable that an economic upturn will start next year.

Maybe there will be a change of management in the coming next months.

It is unlikely that the retirement age will be increased  to 75.

It is just impossible to imagine the www having serious problems in the future.

There are a number of useful time phrases that can be used to talk about the future.

In my life time, I will see china becoming a dominant world power.

Before long, the company will decide to merge with a bigger company.

In the near future, everybody will be using wind power.

In the next … years, there will be a huge change in the way we travel.

Over the next decade, governments will start reducing air traffic.

By this time next year, I will be promoted.

By the end of this century, the way we conduct business in the world will be very different from now.

Sometime in the next decade/century, man will inhabit other planets.

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Prediction and Probability

Cybercrime is on the rise, and experts fear that we probably will not see a real improvement in international law enforcement until we see a big dramatic crime.

If our country’s trade deficit is seen rising, it is possible that the government will have to raise domestic oil prices.

These measures have created a lot of optimism. There is bound to be a positive reaction across the board, the chairman said.

A lot of countries regularly break the three percent target for budget deficits set by the EU, and it is highly likely that the new climate –change targets will go the same way.

Perhaps the number of people who work from home will continue to increase.

Some analyst doubt whether the public’s stated environmental concerns will translate into their purchasing behavior.

The new drug they will launch has no chance of generating a profit because of its tiny market and relatively modest price.

The resignation of x, O CEO, is not out of the question, but the board members are doing their best to prevent it.

With stocks still high and demand slowing, there is a good chance that oil will continue to decline next year.

The reach of the internet will definitely grow.

Fresh water might become, after oil, the next great growth commodity.

Fresh water will possibly become, after oil, the next great growth commodity.

Our country will never join the European union.

There is no chance of our country joining the European union.

Our company may have to make a number of employees redundant in the next few months.

It is probable that our company will have to make a number of employees redundant in the next few months.

We are sure sales of mobile phones will not decrease.

Sales of mobile phones definitely will not decrease.

I have no doubt that the number of people who own their own home will increase significantly.

There will certainly be a significant increase in the number of people who own their own home.

I am sure there will be an increase in interest rates soon.

There is bound to be an increase in interest rates soon.

So far our staff have reacted very well to the changes, but sentiment might change.

So far our staff have reacted very well to the changes, but it is possible that sentiment will change.

I am positive that better communication skills alone will not be enough to clean up the image of our company.

Better communication skills alone certainly will not be enough to clean up the image of our company.

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Certain

Possible

Probable

Unlikely

Impossible

I doubt whether X will launch a bid.

It is very likely that shareholders will accept the bid.

There is no chance of the bid being accepted.

Perhaps the merger will solve our problems.

We are bound to be targeted in the next year.