Modals For Prediction and Speculation, in English
(Source: Astuti, Eka Mulya.2010. English Zone. Jakarta: PenerbitErlangga.)
To predict or speculate about something you can use the following modals:
Ø Will-will not
Ø Might-might not
Ø Could-could not
Pay attention to the following tables.
Prediction (Present and Future Uncertainty)
| Very certain 100% degree of certainty | Uncertain Less certain | Very uncertain 0% degree of certainty |
| Polar bears will disappear. | Polar bears may disappear. | Polar bears may not disappear. |
| Polar bears are going to disappear. | Polar bear might disappear. | Polar bear might notdisappear. |
| | Polar bear could disappear. | Polar bear could not disappear. |
| | *it is doubtful that polar bears will survive. | |
| | *it is unlikely that polar bears will survive. | |
* “doubtful” and “unlikely” can also be used to show uncertainty.
Reflection-speculation (past uncertainty)
| Very certain Reflection | Uncertain speculation | Uncertainty negative Speculation |
| Dinosaurs perished due to a meteor strike. | Dinosaurs may have died from dieses. | They may not have had resistance to disease. |
| | Dinosaurs might have died from starvation. | They might not have had enough to eat. |
| | Dinosaurs could have died from cosmic radiation. | They might not have had shelter from radiation. |
The modals showing certainty/ uncertainty
Ø A very certain prediction. The ice break in Antarctica is due to global warming.
Ø A less certain prediction. We may be the best class (6)
Ø An uncertain prediction. The sun may rise from the west in the dooms day (9)
Ø A very certain speculation/ reflection. Krakatau mountain disappeared due to an eruption (17)
Ø A certain speculation. The bio hazard effect might have been a night mare for our generations (20, but by dimas erda /04)
Ø An uncertain speculation. The big fload might have caused starvation to the citizens (21)