1. Modal Verbs

Used to express ability, possibility, permission, and necessity. This helps students understand how “may,” “might,” and “will” work.

Structure:

• Affirmative: Subject + modal + base verb

Example: "She may swim."

• Negative: Subject + modal + not + base verb

Example: "He might not swim."

• Interrogative: Modal + subject + base verb?

Example: "Might she swim?"

2. Future Forms

Students should already know that the future can be expressed in English in more than one way:

• Will: for decisions made at the moment or definite predictions

• Be going to: for planned actions or predictions based on evidence
  
  

Understanding the difference will help them choose the correct form for predictions.

Structure reminders:

• Will: Subject + will + base verb

Example: "I will help you."

• Be going to: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

Example: "I am going to help you."

Will – Predictions

Use: For actions you are certain about, or decisions made spontaneously.

a) will / won’t

• Will is used for quick decisions, predictions, or facts we believe are certain.

• Won’t is the negative form: it indicates that something will not happen.

Structure:

• Positive: Subject + will + base verb

  • "It will rain tomorrow."

  • "She will pass the exam."
    
    

• Negative: Subject + will not (won’t) + base verb

  • "He won’t arrive on time."
    
    

• Interrogative: Will + subject + base verb?

  • "Will they join us for dinner?"
    
    

Be going to – Evidence-Based Predictions

Use: When you see signs or have plans that something will happen.

b) going to

• Used for future plans or predictions based on evidence.

Structure:

• Positive: Subject + am/is/are + going to + base verb

  • "Look at those clouds! It is going to rain."

  • "They are going to start a new project next week."
    
    

• Negative: Subject + am/is/are not + going to + base verb

  • "I am not going to buy that car."
    
    

• Interrogative: Am/Is/Are + subject + going to + base verb?

  • "Are you going to travel next month?"
    
    

May / Might – Uncertain Predictions

Use: When the action is possible but not certain. “Might” often shows slightly lower probability than “may.”

c) may / might

• These are used to express possibility, but not certainty.

• May and might are very similar, although might is slightly less certain.

Structure: 

• Positive: Subject + may/might + base verb

  • "She may come to the party."

  • "He might be late."
    
    

• Negative: Subject + may/might not + base verb

  • "They might not join the meeting."
    
    

• Interrogative: May/Might + subject + base verb?

  • "Might she arrive on time?"

These adverbs are used to modify the verb and precisely adjust the degree of certainty of the prediction, typically using will (or won't). 

1. With Will

The general rule is that the adverb is placed after the auxiliary verb in affirmative sentences, but before the negative auxiliary verb (won't).

2. With Going to

The structure for going to is different because it uses the verb to be (am, is, are) as its auxiliary. The adverb is placed after the form of to be (am/is/are) in both affirmative and negative sentences.

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