How to use will for predictions, offers and promises in English (B1 pre-intermediate): probably, won’t and a forecast note

Use will + the base verb to predict, and show how sure you are: “It’ll probably rain until two.” “The café definitely won’t open on Friday.” The same I’ll also offers help (“I’ll carry one.”), promises (“I promise I’ll call by five.”) and announces decisions made on the spot (“The van is unavailable, so I’ll book a taxi.”). A good forecast note joins both: what you expect, how sure you are, what you will do. This guide is for adults at B1 (pre-intermediate, A2–B1); 10 minutes a day is enough.

Who this is for

Adults at pre-intermediate level who use will for everything about the future and want to sound less certain, or more helpful, on purpose.
Anyone who plans events, trips or projects and has to tell others in English what will probably happen and who will do what.
Learners who mix up “I’ll” and “Shall I…?” when offering help, or answer with a full sentence when “I hope so” would do.
Too early: if you still talk about the future mostly with dates and the present, start with the A2 article on inviting a friend to a music event and proposing a time to meet.
Too easy: if you already separate what you know from what you expect without thinking, move on to the B1 article on a balanced film review that separates facts from opinion.

Open the sample pages

Word cards

prediction

a belief about what will happen

The wind will probably become stronger after three.

offer or suggestion

voluntary help or a proposal made in the conversation

I’ll collect the covers. Shall we move the sound desk?

promise or instant decision

a commitment, or a choice made now after new information

I promise I’ll call by five. The van is unavailable, so I’ll book a taxi.

Conversation

maya The forecast has changed. It’ll probably rain until two, and the wind will become stronger after four.

owen Then the paper displays won’t be safe in the west courtyard. Shall we move them inside the hall?

maya Yes. I’ll ask the exhibitors to arrive through the north door.

owen I’ll collect the waterproof covers from Marco at one. I promise I’ll return them clean on Monday.

maya Thanks. Who’s bringing the folding tables?

owen The volunteer driver was going to, but he has just cancelled. All right—I’ll book a cargo taxi for one forty-five.

maya I’ll meet it by the north gate. Will the tables fit through that entrance?

owen Yes, they will. The double doors are wider than the west gate. I’ll send the taxi driver your number in the next five minutes.

maya Good. If the wind arrives earlier, we’ll cancel the outdoor signs as well.

Language pattern

What makes a forecast note useful?

It states the event and evidence, separates probable and less certain outcomes, and attaches preparation, offers, or promises to the risks.

A reader can see both how confident the writer is and what the team will do.

Current evidence
will probably
definitely won’t
In heavy rain
Shall we…?
I’ll…

More practice

The forecast diary

Adults using evidence to forecast repairs and an opening night.

THE FORECAST DIARY

For six weeks, community organiser Salma Iqbal wrote down every prediction she made about the Saturday repair café. Before each event, she recorded expected visitor numbers, likely problems, and one action she would take. On Sunday, she checked what actually happened.

At first, Salma’s predictions were incredibly confident. “Forty people will come. We won’t run out of tools. The bicycle table will be the busiest.” In week one, 67 people arrived, the team ran out of screwdrivers, and only four bicycles needed work. Most visitors brought lamps and small kitchen equipment.

Salma did not stop forecasting. She made the language more cautious and used recent information. Before week three, online bookings were at 38, so she wrote, “We’ll probably see between 50 and 60 visitors. Electrical repairs will be busier than bicycle repairs.” Fifty-six people came, and her category prediction was correct.

The diary also changed decisions. When rain was forecast for week five, Salma predicted that the outdoor waiting area would be unusable. She borrowed a hall, promised to return its chairs on Monday, and asked two volunteers to arrive early. The rain was lighter than expected, but the extra space made the event calmer.

Salma has learned that a useful forecast is not a claim to know the future. It names the available evidence, expresses confidence honestly, and connects the prediction to a sensible action.

Write an evidence-aware forecast note

FORECAST NOTE: SUNDAY COURTYARD MARKET

Current evidence: 42 sellers have confirmed, compared with 31 last month. The weather service predicts light rain before 10:00 and a dry afternoon. Online visitor interest is about 20 per cent higher than in August.

The morning will probably begin slowly because of the rain, but the market will be busier after lunch. We definitely won’t fit every seller under the permanent roof. The food area will probably be crowded between 13:00 and 14:30.

I’ll borrow six waterproof covers and return them on Monday. Shall we move three food stalls to the wider east gate? I’ll call those sellers today. In heavy rain, we’ll delay the music rather than place electrical equipment outside. I can’t guarantee visitor numbers, but these preparations will reduce the main risks.

What makes a forecast note useful?

It states the event and evidence, separates probable and less certain outcomes, and attaches preparation, offers, or promises to the risks.

A reader can see both how confident the writer is and what the team will do.

Current evidence
will probably
definitely won’t
In heavy rain
Shall we…?
I’ll…

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Predictions with will and won’t

Use will + the base verb: no to, no -s. The negative is won’t, and questions put will first. In speech, will becomes a weak ’ll after pronouns: I’ll, it’ll, we’ll.

“The parcel won’t arrive before Friday.”
“Will the repair cost a lot?”
won’t rhymes with don’t; want does not: “I want to go, but I won’t leave before six.”

How sure are you? probably, definitely and I don’t think

Readers need to see how confident you are. Probably and definitely go after will but before won’t. For a negative opinion, English prefers “I don’t think it will rain.” to “I think it won’t rain.” To answer a prediction, a short reply is enough.

Sure: “It will definitely be busy after lunch.” “It definitely won’t freeze.”
Likely: “It’ll probably rain until two.”
Unlikely: “It probably won’t snow.” “I don’t think the queue will move soon.”
Short replies: “Will the interview go well?” “I hope so.” “Will they cancel the opening night?” “I don’t think so.”

Same I’ll, different job: offers, promises and decisions

Not every will is a prediction. About your own actions, I’ll offers help, promises or announces a decision you have just made. Shall is used mostly in questions: Shall I…? offers, Shall we…? suggests.

Offer: “Those boxes look heavy. I’ll carry one.” “Shall I open the door?”
Suggestion: “Shall we move the sound desk?”
Promise: “I promise I’ll call by five.” “I won’t forget.”
Promises with back: “I’ll call you back in fifteen minutes.” “I’ll pay you back on Friday.”
Instant decision: “The van is unavailable, so I’ll book a taxi.”
Decided earlier? That is a plan, so use going to: “I’m going to book the taxi tonight.”

A short conversation: the forecast changes

Two organisers move an outdoor display after a new forecast. Label each will: prediction, suggestion, offer or promise. Next, the driver cancels, and the reply is an instant decision: “I’ll book a cargo taxi for one forty-five.”

Maya The forecast has changed. It’ll probably rain until two, and the wind will become stronger after four.

Owen Then the paper displays won’t be safe in the west courtyard. Shall we move them inside the hall?

Maya Yes. I’ll ask the exhibitors to arrive through the north door.

Owen I’ll collect the waterproof covers from Marco at one. I promise I’ll return them clean on Monday.

Learn this unit your way

Write a 130–160 word forecast note

A forecast note tells a team what will probably happen and what you will do: evidence, three predictions at two or more confidence levels, and two actions. One confident prediction that proves wrong makes readers doubt the rest. Build it in this order:

Evidence: “Thirty-five people have booked, and light rain is forecast before ten.”
Probable: “The morning will probably start slowly.”
Certain: “We definitely won’t fit every table under the roof.”
Less certain: “I don’t think the car park will be full.”
Offer and suggestion: “I’ll borrow four covers. Shall we move the food tables inside?”
Risk and action (present after if): “If the wind gets stronger, we’ll take the signs inside.”
Closing promise: “I promise I’ll send an update by six on Friday.”

Common mistakes

Each has an easy fix:

“It won’t probably rain.” Say “It probably won’t rain.”
“I think it won’t work.” More natural: “I don’t think it will work.”
“I open the door.” as an offer. Say “I’ll open it.” or “Shall I open it?”
“If it will rain, …” After if, use the present: “If it rains, we’ll move inside.”
“Forty people will come.” with no evidence. Add a reason and a confidence word: “Thirty-eight people have booked, so we’ll probably see about fifty.”

A 10-minute daily practice routine

Pick a real event in your coming week.

2 minutes: play the conversation, repeat each line and name its job.
3 minutes: say three predictions about your event with different confidence levels.
3 minutes: add two actions with I’ll or Shall we…?, then write the note: 130–160 words.
2 minutes: read it aloud with a weak ’ll and a clear won’t. Are your forecasts usually too positive or too negative?

What comes next

Next, practise rules and conditions: a first-day guide that separates rules from choices, then advice with if-sentences for someone facing two options. To review, compare two options with matched criteria.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between will for predictions and will for promises?

Same form, different job. A prediction says what you believe will happen (“It’ll probably rain.”); a promise commits you to an action (“I promise I’ll return them on Monday.”).

Where does probably go with will and won’t?

After will, before won’t: “It’ll probably rain.” “It probably won’t snow.” Definitely follows the same rule.

Will or going to for predictions?

Both work. Going to is common when the evidence is visible now (“Look at that sky. It’s going to rain.”); will is common for opinions, often with I think or probably.