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Language to write about the future in IELTS


You will notes on how to use these words and exercises at: writing about the future in IELTS Verb forms verb form going to present continuous present simple example The growth of computer technology is going to lead to higher rates of unemployment. The Olympic Games are being held in London in 2012. When everone has a computer, communication is going to be revolutionised.

Plans and predictions general vocabulary plan (verb) plan (noun) predict (verb) prediction (noun) intend (verb) example The government plan to improve the quality of IT training for the non-digital native generation. The governments plans to improve computer literacy are vital if this is to succeed. It is predicted that the majority of people will be computer literate by 2010. It is not possible to make any rm prediction about the level of computer literacy in the near future. While many people intend to use the functions of smart phones, in fact they only ever make phone calls with them. Despite their best intentions, many people do not use all the functions of their smart phones. It is easy to foresee a situation where computers are no longer under our control.

intention (noun) foresee (verb)

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general vocabulary foreseeable (verb) example It is quite foreseeable that in the future computers will no longer be under human control.

Modal verbs of probability probability verb may might could example Computers may one day become truly independent. Articial intelligence in the future might be far more advanced It is possible that in the future we could all have household robots.

Other words of probability probable words possible/possibility probable/probability likely/likelihood example There is a strong possibility that future generations will no longer read books. The probability is that in 20 years time, very few people will write letters to each other. It seems quite likely that education will be transformed by computer technology.

Time and conditional words

time/conditional words if

example If computers continue to develop at the same pace, then we are likely to become over-reliant on them. The likelihood is computers will take over our lives, when articial intelligence improves.

when

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time/conditional words once example Once articial intelligence has improved, computers are probably going to be beyond our control. This is going to happen as soon as articial intelligence improves.

as soon as

Future collocations future phrases the near future the immediate future the long-term future the foreseeable future the future looks bleak a bright future an uncertain future future generations example This is unlikely to happen any time in the near future, but it will take some years, While the immediate future may look rosy, longerterms prospects are less certain. Governments need to look to the long-term future in order to provide for future generations. The print media may disappear in the foreseeable future. The future of the print media looks bleak in face of competition from the internet. What is certain is that the IT industry has a bright future with appropriate investment. Many traditional industries have a very uncertain future in the age of computer technology. Future generations are almost certain to nd new uses for computer technology.

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