#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!
~Annemarie
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Thank you, Annemarie!
I wonder why in the #2 and #3 sentences in the very beginning of the lesson we have “I hope…” and “I’m hoping…” – what’s the subtle difference there?
Hi Annemarie,
Hi Annemarie, 1_ With any luck I will be able to sell my property very soon. 2_ I trust that our hard work in studying will pass the exam. 3_ I would think that after this hard situation of coronavirus every body will be back to their normal life. 4_ I should think that my dad will be so happy to see me after a long time. 5_ I would like to think that the home owner will accept my offer. 6_ I should like to think that by this time next year my husband and I will be set… Read more »
With any luck, I hope to start my new business and help many people to overcome their challenges and be happy. With any luck, I will go abroad in the world and visit beautiful city as New York, Paris and London next year. With any luck, after much work, I’ll be able to speak English confidently and fluently in december. By this time next year, I would think that the pandemic Covid 19, will be less aggressive than this winter . I should think that after all my hard work I’ll succeed in getting the contract. Thank you so Much Anne Marie for your lesson, I find that there… Read more »
Thank you so much Annmarie with all of your lessons that you have shared so now. I’m so impressed with your Incredible methods, examples, and body language that inspired me, with a lot amount of desire to continue to learn English, with your confident English community. I would think that by few months, I’ll be able to be stunning English speaker.
I would like to think that I can be able to take my English to high level by short period of time
With any luck, we will be able to get through the coronaviros by next year
EXEMPLES: With any luck,I’m gonna talk to my boss and ask him some permission for going out. I trust that we will be together at school! I should think that he will be very happy after arriving in india. I would like to think that we will get back at 6a.m after talking with the president. LET ME ASK YOU SOME QUESTIONS.[can I?] So My question is this: {what and where is the future hope when you say:’After all times i’ve spent practicing I would like to think I’m improuving’} ALSO I STILL HAVE QUESTION. when i say;”I would like… Read more »
Wonderful examples here, Mugisha. And thanks for the questions. I’m not sure I understand what your exact question is — could you clarify?
With any Luck, I will be able to join in next Fluency School Class.
I would like to think that i can be confidence in English in short time after join in Fluency School. Thank you so much Annemarie for providing such great lessons.
Wonderful examples, Satheesh and we’d love to have you join Fluency School! Keep September 30 on your calendar. That is the day registration opens. 😊
With any luck, I will be able to travel to Mauritius next year.
I trust that Governments will became more prudent and watchful after this dramatic Pandemia.
I would think that by next year they will have discovered an effective cure for covid-19.
I would like to think that by this time next year we’ll be arranging our wedding… 😍
Thanks Annemarie for your great lesson 😇
Well done, Vania. This sentence is very impressive with its complicated grammar structure: I would think that by next year they will have discovered an effective cure for covid-19.
With any luck we will win this game.
I trust that schools will be back to normal before the end of the year.
By this time next year I should think that I would have my promotion at work.
I would like to think that the cold weather will be over soon.
Nice work, Dudu. This sentence is particularly strong: I trust that schools will be back to normal before the end of the year.
With any luck I will go to Greece this year.
I trust that my daughter will be very good at maths in the future.
I should think that the school will start in september like normaly.
By next month, I would like to think that I will do more sports.
Thanks so much for sharing your examples, Veronica. You have some great ones here! How lovely it would be to go to Greece!
I want to learn the correct intonations when speaking native English
With any luck, I will go back to Japan to see my friends and family early next year.
I trust that you and your family are well.
I should think that my manager will be back to work from her maternity leave.
I would like to think that I will find Mr Right by Christmas or Valentine;s Day.
Hi Akiko. I like your examples. Nicely done. And I hope your plan to visit your family and friends in Japan next year will be come true!
With any luck, I’ll succeed get a work permit in Portugal this year
I trust that, my love story with my fiance will be ended by marriage after this unprecedented circumstances
by this time next month, I would think that my situation in Poland will be solved.
By the end of this year, I should like to think that my friend will be weathered her husband’s death.
Thank you for sharing your examples, Shaymaa. Great job! And I hope that all your dreams and plans will come true!
Many more efficient measures have been superseding the means of “installing ventilators as soon as possible” in the process of rescuing covid-19 critical cases for now. I’d like to think the WHO will amend its rescue plan in the near future.
Experiencing / Experienced the pandemic, I should think that the public awareness of disease prevention must be strengthened.
With any luck, by this time next year, we’ll have in-person classes in our teaching building of our school.
Wonderful examples here, Grace!! I share your future hopes!
Thanks a lot Anne! With ever luck I’ll start my new business next year.
Oh, fingers crossed!! I wish you much success.
Thank you Anne. I enjoyed the lesson. With any luck, I will impress my husband when I use them.
You’re so welcome, Ivonne! And yes, I hope your husband is impressed. Great job using ‘with any luck.’ 😊
I would like to think I’ll have a quote next week
With any luck I’ll be traveling out of the country next year
Great examples, Lucia! When you say, “I’ll have a quote next week” can you tell me what you mean? Do you mean a quote for a job contract or something similar?
Yes , i will like to join the discussion
With any luck, school will open regularly in September.
I trust that I’ll meet my students at school.
By this time next year ,I would think that I’ll be able to travel abroad.
I should like to think that I’ll have time visit Kew Gardens next year!
Oh, I love these examples so much! Well done, Marina.
I’m particularly excited about your last one — your plan to visit Kew Gardens. Do you live in the UK? This week I just received The Kew Book of Painting Roses in Watercolor (watercolor is my hobby) and I’m *obsessed* with the roses there. I’m also dreaming of visiting the gardens. 🥰
By this time next year I slhoud Think I will be speaking English
I hope so too, Isaias!! You’re on the right path.
Hello AnneMarie,
I really like to learn diferentes ways to express something, especially when this nuances change the meaning of the sentence. I think it is important to know it. Thanks for your lesson. I trust that my fluency Will be better by the end of this year.
Hi Jesus, I’m thrilled that this was a good lesson for you then. It is certainly important (and fun!) to know how to speak with nuance. It adds more variety to your language skills and helps you express yourself more precisely. Great job using, “I trust that…”
With any luck I will speak fluently inglish
Hello Annemarie! Thank you very much for this lesson. Here are my hopes (funny, not very serious:))
With any luck my elder son won’t make a tattoo of skull on his left arm when he will be 18!
I trust that my husband will overcome a half-marathon distance in September.
I should like to think that my cheesecake according to a new recipe won’t be a failure as I put too much sugar.
Ok, and one serious hope
I should think that I’ll definitely get an interesting job proposal by the mid of October.
Ha! These are great, Olga! How did your cheesecake turn out? 😊
I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a job proposal by mid-October! And watch for my new lesson next week. It answers your question about resumes vs. cover letters. 🙌
Wonderful examples, Marta! Nicely done. And I hope your plan to visit Japan next year will be come true!
I should think that if kids can get back to their old schedule
Hi Sima, this looks like a good start. You’ve got the beginning of a conditional sentence here with the word ‘if’ and that means we need an ending. Let’s try:
I should that that if [the] kids can get back to their old schedule then _____.
How would you finish that? What would happen?
I would like to think that I’ll get the new project but I don’t have the confidence.
This is a good example sentence. It sounds like you have some potential opportunities. I hope they’ll come your way.
With any luck, I will pass the test that my job requires.
I trust that schools will be returning to normal next year.
I should think after all the time I’ve been studying, I will get a passing score on the test.
I would like to think that by this time next year, we will not been using masks.
Well done, Maria! These are great examples. I also hope we won’t have to be wearing masks next year.
With any luck, I’ll go on vacation in November.
I trust that the borders will be reopened very soon.
Fingers crossed for November! Good examples here, Olga.
Good examples here, Sima.
Hello Annemarie,
With any luck, I will pass the IELTS exam.
I trust that I will constitute my company next summer.
I should think I will get the IFRS diploma.
I should like to think I will get the IFRS diploma.
Thanks for sharing your examples! Can you tell me what you mean by “constitute my company?”
With any luck, we will get our pedigree house.
I trust that my son will complete his studies next year.
Thanks for sharing your examples here, Yogesh!
One question. Can you tell me what you mean by ‘pedigree house?’
With any luck, I will have my project finished by the end of October.
I trust that this project of mine will be worth it the work I put into it.
After all that you have done I should think everything will be perfect.
I should like to think you are right, but there are some facts that you may not considered.
Oh, great examples Ana!
The last one is great for a gentle way to provide constructive feedback. There’s just one word we need to add to perfect the structure of the sentence. Do you know what it might be:
“I should like to think you are right, but there are some facts that you may not _____ considered.”
Hi Annemarie! Thank you for taking the time to look at my examplea and to give comment.
I am not quite sure . I would like to think it is the verb “have”. 😉