Speaking Task 4: Making Predictions

To finally be in a situation, often one that was not planned, as the result of events.

“If he keeps texting while walking, he'll wind up walking straight into that pole.”

“The children will probably wind up soaked after chasing each other through the sprinkler.”

Often used: wind up + -ing · wind up in · wind up with

CELPIP tip: Rhymes with find, not with wind in the weather sense. Use it to predict an unplanned final result.

Describes something that probably will not happen.

“The toddler is unlikely to sit still for the family photo much longer.”

“The old car is unlikely to start again without a boost.”

Often used: is highly unlikely to · seems unlikely to

CELPIP tip: Predicting what will not happen adds variety. Strengthen it with highly for a near-certain negative.

Very soon; something could happen at almost any moment.

“Those dark clouds mean the storm could hit the beach any minute now.”

“Any minute now, the birthday girl will walk in and everyone will shout surprise.”

Often used: could happen any minute now · any minute now, ...

CELPIP tip: Adds urgency to a prediction. Put it at the start or end of the sentence, not in the middle.

Used when something is going to happen very soon, almost immediately.

“The waiter is about to trip over the backpack left in the aisle.”

“It looks like the bus is about to leave without the man running toward it.”

Often used: is just about to · was about to

CELPIP tip: Excellent for the first prediction, because it focuses on the next moment. Follow it with a base verb.

After only a short time has passed.

“Before long, the whole class will be covered in paint.”

“The snow will melt before long, and the rink will turn to slush.”

Often used: before long, ... · will ... before long

CELPIP tip: Good for moving from the next moment to a slightly later stage of the scene, so your predictions cover time.

A conversational frame meaning something is quite likely to happen.

“Chances are the kids will run inside as soon as the rain starts.”

“Chances are the store manager will offer the customer a refund to calm him down.”

Often used: chances are that · chances are good that

CELPIP tip: A natural way to open your strongest prediction. Follow it with a full clause, often using will.

A frame for saying you think something will probably not happen.

“I doubt the man will make it to his meeting on time in this traffic.”

“I doubt the soccer game will continue once the lightning starts.”

Often used: I doubt that · I doubt it · I seriously doubt

CELPIP tip: Pronounce it like dowt; the b is silent. Follow it with a positive clause, not a double negative.

A soft frame for a guess that you think is reasonable but cannot prove.

“I'd imagine the neighbours will come out to see what the noise is.”

“I'd imagine the coach will take the injured player off the ice.”

Often used: I'd imagine that · I'd imagine so

CELPIP tip: It sounds polite and thoughtful. Use it for a medium-certainty prediction after a stronger one.

A condition meaning that nothing goes wrong, so the plan succeeds.

“If all goes well, the family will finish setting up the tent before dark.”

“If all goes well, the new cashier will get through the lineup quickly.”

Often used: if all goes well, ... will · assuming all goes well

CELPIP tip: Pair it with a contrasting prediction such as but if not, which shows you can talk about two possible futures.

A frame for a prediction that could happen but that you are not strongly sure about.

“It's quite possible that the dog will grab the sandwich off the picnic blanket.”

“It's quite possible that the delivery driver will have to come back tomorrow.”

Often used: it's also quite possible that · it's entirely possible that

CELPIP tip: Use it for your less certain, extra prediction. It shows you can separate likely outcomes from possible ones.

A frame saying that something has a strong possibility of happening, though not a certainty.

“There's a good chance the cyclist will stop to help the man who dropped his bags.”

“There's a good chance the picnic will be moved under the park shelter.”

Often used: there's a good chance that · there's a slim chance · there's every chance

CELPIP tip: Change good to slim or small to lower your certainty. This one frame lets you show several degrees of probability.

A phrase that bases your prediction on what you can see in the situation right now.

“From the look of things, the moving truck won't fit under that low bridge.”

“From the look of things, the bakery will sell out before noon.”

Often used: from the look of things, ...

CELPIP tip: Connect it to a specific clue in the picture right after, so your prediction sounds grounded.

Describes what people generally think will happen, often based on plans or clear signs.

“The new community centre is expected to open before the snow arrives.”

“The lineup at the ticket booth is expected to get longer as the concert approaches.”

Often used: is widely expected to · is expected to + verb

CELPIP tip: A formal choice, good for predictions about crowds, events or services. Keep the base verb after to.

A frame suggesting something is fairly likely, said in an indirect and natural way.

“It wouldn't surprise me if the cat knocked that vase off the shelf.”

“It wouldn't surprise me if the neighbours called the city about the fallen tree.”

Often used: it wouldn't surprise me at all if

CELPIP tip: The verb after it is usually in the past simple, knocked or called, even though you mean the future.

A time linker meaning at or before a future moment you have just mentioned.

“The guests will arrive at six; by then, the host will have finished cooking.”

“The ferry leaves in an hour, and by then the line of cars will be huge.”

Often used: by then, ... will have · hopefully by then

CELPIP tip: Try it with the future perfect, will have + past participle. It links a later prediction to an earlier one smoothly.

A linker that adds the result or effect of the prediction you have just made.

“The power has gone out, which means the frozen food will start to thaw.”

“The trail is flooded, which means the hikers will have to turn back.”

Often used: which means that · which means they'll have to

CELPIP tip: Chains one prediction to the next. Two or three links like this make your answer flow logically.

A linker that states a condition you are taking to be true for your prediction.

“Assuming the rain holds off, the parade will go ahead as planned.”

“Assuming someone finds the lost wallet, it'll be handed in to the front desk.”

Often used: assuming that · assuming nothing goes wrong

CELPIP tip: It shows your prediction depends on something. A useful way to vary conditions beyond if.

An expression for something that will happen very quickly and perhaps surprisingly after an earlier event.

“One kid will start a snowball fight, and the next thing you know, the whole park will join in.”

“He'll try one sample, and the next thing you know, he'll buy three jars of honey.”

Often used: and the next thing you know

CELPIP tip: Works well for a lively chain of predictions. Keep it conversational and do not overuse it.