#183: Talk about Future Hopes in English [Advanced English Grammar]
When you think about this time next year (so August 2021), what are some things you HOPE to do or HOPE to accomplish?
You may be thinking:
- Hopefully, we’ll have the opportunity to travel abroad next year.
- I hope to travel abroad next summer.
- I’m hoping to travel to Japan next summer.
Look at those 3 examples again. We’re using three common uses with the word “HOPE.”
But did you know that we can express hopes, desires, and expectations for the future WITHOUT using the word ‘hope?’
You may be wondering why that is so important.
Like my students, I know you want to gain confidence and fluency with your English skills. You want to express exactly what you want.
Doing so includes the ability to use a variety of language structures to express what you want, not just the obvious ones like using the word ‘hope.’
Today you’re going to learn 4 advanced-level structures you can use to talk about what you hope for in the future or what you expect should happen so you can be more flexible in the language.
Throughout the lesson, I’ll provide examples and at the end I have some opportunities for you to practice and perfect your skills.
4 Advanced-Level English Structures to Talk about Future Hopes
Review the examples from the video lesson below but for a complete explanation of the subtle differences in meaning or the nuance, be sure to watch the full lesson.
With any luck…
With any luck is used for saying that you hope a particular thing happens.
- With any luck, we’ll have a vaccine by early next year.
- With any luck, their team will win the tournament this year.
- With any luck, we’ll succeed in winning the contract.
I trust that…
I trust that is used for saying that you hope and expect that something is true.
- I trust that the airlines will be back to their usual travel schedule next summer.
- I trust that our hard work will pay off.
I should/would think (that)…
Used to say that I believe something is true or that something will happen; express that something should happen.
- A: Will you be visiting your family for the holidays?
- B: I should/would think so.
- By this time next year, I would think that the airlines will be back to their usual travel schedule.
- I should think that after all our hard work we’ll succeed in getting the contract.
I should/would like to think (that)…
Used to say that you wish or hope something is true when you are not sure that it is.
- After all the time I’ve spent practicing, I would like to think I’m improving.
- I would like to think my hard work will pay off.
- I would like to think that by this time next year we’ll have a vaccine for COVID-19.
Other Confident English Lessons mentioned in the video:
It’s time to practice and perfect your skills for talking about future hopes in English with nuance.
Try using all 4 structures in your own example sentences:
- With any luck…
- I trust that…
- I should/would think (that)…
- I should/would like to think (that)…
This is the perfect opportunity to feel comfortable using what you’ve learned. Plus, you can learn from others in the Confident English Community by reviewing their examples as well.
Share and learn in the comments section below.
I look forward to hearing more about your future hopes!
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