Possible Futures Video

My latest Youtube video teaches how to use the first conditional to talk about possible futures.

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In this video we will talk about the future of the environment. To talk about possible future events and their results we use the first conditional.

Here is an example of a sentence using the first conditional:
If global warming continues to get worse, sea levels will rise.
If global warming continues to get worse is the possible future.
Sea levels will rise is the result of that situation.

To make first conditional sentences we use if + simple present, comma, will/won't + verb.
If we take showers, we will save water.

We use won't for negative sentences.
If we waste electricity, we won't save the environment.

The if clause can come either first or second in the sentence.
If sea levels rise, polar bears will lose their habitat.
Polar bears will lose their habitat if sea levels rise.

Will/Won't can be replaced by modal verbs such as should/might/can.
If you want to help the environment, you should recycle.
If we don't do something now, it might be too late.
You can save money if you don't waste electricity.

Here is an example of a question using the first conditional:
What will happen if we stop polluting the air?
If we stop polluting the air, we will be healthier.

Here are examples of yes/no questions:
If I use a reusable bag, will it help the environment?
Yes, it will.

Will I save money if I walk to walk?
Yes, you will, and you will help the environment.

The if clause in these sentences describes something that is possible. The if clause can be replaced by different time clauses.
When clauses describe something that is certain to happen.
When technology gets better, we will use more renewable energy.

As soon as is used to say what will happen immediately after something else happens.
I'll buy an electric car as soon as I save enough money.

We use until to say something will or won't happen up to a particular point.
Wildlife will lose their habitat until we start to care about the environment.
Air quality won't get better until we plant more trees.

We use unless to describe a result if something doesn't happen.
The ice caps will melt unless we stop global warming.

Let's play a game about consequences. Can you continue the conversation by saying the consequences of the previous result?
What will happen if we pollute the air?
If we pollute the air, the earth will get hotter.
If the earth gets hotter, the ice caps will melt.
If the ice caps melt...
What do you think will happen if the ice caps melt? Write sentences in the comments.

Here are some more questions which you can answer in the comments section to give you some practice and get you thinking about the environment.
1. What will happen if we pollute the oceans?
2. What will happen if we continue to burn fossil fuels?
3. What will happen if we don't protect the rainforests?
4. What will happen if we don't recycle?
5. What will happen if we plant more trees?
Answer these questions by putting your answers in the comments section and I'll check your answers.

Future Plans and Predictions Video

Here is my latest video about the future plans and predictions using be going to.

If you like this video, please click 'like' and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to use be going to to talk about the future. Be going to has two functions:

1. to describe future intentions and

2. to make predictions

We use be going to when we describe something we intend to do. Be going to is used when the decision was made in the past. If the decision is being made now, we generally use will instead of be going to. Compare these two sentences:

A: We're going to give James a surprise birthday party.

B: Great. I'll buy him a present.

We also use be going to when making predictions about the near future that are based on present evidence rather than our opinion. When talking about outcomes that we are less certain about, we would generally use will rather than be going to.

Compare these two sentences:

I missed my bus. I'm going to be late for work.

I think everyone will have their own robot in the future.

To make sentences we use subject + be + going to + verb. This chart shows the grammar we need to make be going to sentences. Let's look at some examples. What are you going to do tomorrow? I'm going to go jogging. What is she going to do on the weekend? She's going to relax. What are they going to do next summer? They're going to go on vacation.

For negative sentences we add not. I'm not going to lose. I'm going to win. He isn't going to be on time. or He's not going to be on time. He's going to be late. You aren't going to fail the exam. or You're not going to fail the exam. You're going to pass.

Here are some examples of yes / no questions. Am I going to be busy today? No, you're not. Is it going to rain? Yes, it is. Are they going to give her the job? Yes, they are.

In informal spoken English we often say gonna instead of going to. However, we would never use gonna in written English and it shouldn't be used in formal speech. Here's an example: I'm gonna watch a movie tonight.

Future Predictions Video

Here is my latest video on talking about predicting the future

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If you like this video, please click 'like' and subscribe to my Youtube channel.

Here's the script of the video:

In this video we will learn how to talk about future predictions. Before we introduce the grammar, let's look at an example. What will she be when she finishes university? She will probably be a nurse. She probably won't be a chef. She definitely won't be a housewife. Now let's review the grammar. We use will/won't to show how certain we are about something happening in the future.
Mark will probably go to France next summer.
It definitely won't rain tomorrow.
The adverb of probability comes after will, but before won't. We use may/might to show that something is possible in the future.
I might go swimming tomorrow.
She may not get here before the movie starts.
The probabilities can be shown on a scale from certain to happen to not going to happen.
will definitely
will probably
might/may
probably won't
definitely won't
Now let's look at some other examples where we can predict the future. Here's a weather map of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. What will the weather be like in London tomorrow. It will definitely be cloudy. What will the weather be like in Cardiff tomorrow? It might be sunny. What will the weather be like in Dublin tomorrow? It probably won't rain. We can also predict things that we might do at a future time. What will she do next summer? She will probably learn to drive. What will he do on the weekend? He probably won't study for a test. What will they do next year? They may take a trip somewhere.