Let’s talk about making predictions and sequential connections in English.
VOCABULARY
Four verbs you can use instead of to predict
1.) to anticipate – expect and be prepared for
2.) to foresee – to have a vision
3.) to forecast – Usually to announce (weather)
Example: I _(any of the verbs above)_ that Mary will achieve her goal. She works so hard!
4.) to expect – based on fact (omit that)
Esperar in Spanish translates as hope, wish, or expect.
Gambling Vocabulary in Everyday English
I bet that… = I think that…
How much do you want to bet that… = Do you think that…
You bet! = Yes.
the odds = the probability
to up the ante = to increase the risk or possible harm of something
to double down = to double the amount of your initial bet
to hedge your bets = to place a bet on the opposite side of the wager
a stake = the initial amount of money that is placed as a wager
to stake = to bet or wager
Example: I’d stake my life on it. = I am certain it is true.
The stakes are high. = The cost and risk is high.
Example: These are high stakes negotiations.
to stake a claim to something = to say that something belongs to you
The term stake here is different. It refers to a sharpened piece of wood.
“This expression refers to the practice of putting stakes around the perimeter of a piece of land to which a claim is laid. It is American in origin, dating from the California gold rush of 1849 , when the prospectors registered their claims to individual plots of land in this way.” – The Free Dictionary
Clarify how to use so and learn more options:
So or because? – Try the quiz!
Elegant options for SO – Learn alternative connectors
Let’s practice making sequential connections.
1.) …so that…
Example:
She works hard so that she can achieve her goal.
She worked hard so that she could achieve her goal.
As a prediction, we use future tenses:
Example:
She works hard so that she will achieve her goal.
2.) … so as to + verb
Example:
She works hard so as to achieve her goal.
She worked hard so as to achieve her goal.
3.) … adjective + enough to + base form verb…
Example: She worked hard enough to achieve her goal.
4.) Because X, Y happened.
Example: Because she worked hard, she achieved her goal.
Causative verbs – Have, make, get, let as causative verbs
Conditionals
0 Conditional
Example: When people work hard they achieve their goals.
Other terms that you can use:
to lead to
to bring about
to result in
Examples:
Hard work leads to achieving your goals.
Hard work can bring about the achievement of your goals.
Hard work results in achieving your goals.
1St conditional
Example with will: I think that if Mary works hard she will achieve her goal.
Example with going to: Mary is definitely going to achieve her goal.
See more grammar: Guinlist
Listening, Reading, and Speaking
Have you heard of Polymarket? It is a site where people can place bets on world events. However, it has come to be used as a tool to predict what will happen.
Watch the video about Polymarket.
Read the article by the Guardian.
1.) What is Polymarket?
2.) Why is Ploymarket considered to be so good at predicting world events?
3.) Do you think Polymarket shoud be legal?
4.) Would you ever place a bet on Polymarket?
