In German, you can use the future tense (Futur I) to make an assumption about something happening right now.
Future Tense for Present Assumptions
To state what someone is probably doing or what something must be, use the conjugated verb werden in the second position with the main verb in its infinitive form at the end of the sentence.
To clarify that this is a present assumption rather than a future prediction, add wohl (probably) or schon (surely).
| This huge find is probably a dinosaur. | Dieser riesige Fund wird wohl ein Dinosaurier sein. |
| The researcher is probably excavating the bones from the first layer. | Der Forscher wird die Knochen wohl aus der ersten Schicht ausgraben. |
Adding "gerade" for Ongoing Actions
Adding a time word like gerade (just/right now) emphasizes that you are guessing about an action happening at this exact moment.
| The researchers are probably examining the huge skeleton right now. | Die Forscher werden das riesige Skelett wohl gerade untersuchen. |
| They are probably excavating the find from the dark rock right now. | Sie werden den Fund wohl gerade aus dem dunklen Gestein ausgraben. |
Assumptions in Subordinate Clauses
In a subordinate clause (like after dass), the conjugated form of werden moves to the very end of the sentence, immediately following the infinitive.
| I believe that the fossil is probably lying in the rock under this layer. | Ich glaube, dass das Fossil wohl im Gestein unter dieser Schicht liegen wird. |
More Examples
| In my opinion, the fossil probably originates from prehistoric times. | Meiner Meinung nach wird das Fossil wohl aus der Urzeit stammen. |
| The searching researcher probably knows a lot about prehistoric times. | Der suchende Forscher wird wohl viel über die Urzeit wissen. |
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