Likely / Unlikely
This lesson describes how to talk about how probable something is using “likely” and “unlikely”. It is part of a complete and free intermediate English course.
What does it mean?
Likely means probable, they are synonymous.
If I say that
It is likely that I will listen to some music later.
This is the same as saying that
It is probable that I will listen to some music later.
Unlikely means improbable, they are synonymous.
If I say that
It is unlikely that I will win the lottery,
this is the same as saying that
It is improbable that I will win the lottery.
How do we use it?
Likely and unlikely are adjectives. Verbs after adjectives take the infinitive form with “to”.
He is unlikely to win.
We are unlikely to arrive on time.
Alternatively likely and unlikely can be followed by a clause with “that”;
It is unlikely that he will win.
It is unlikely that we will arrive on time.
There is no difference in meaning or register between the two forms.
A note about “probably”
When we use the adverb probably with a modal or auxiliary verb like will or have or can the position changes depending on whether it is positive or negative;
- I will probably go to bed early tonight.
- I probably won’t go to bed late tonight.
- He has probably got lost.
- He probably hasn’t got a map.
- I can probably do it
- I probably can’t do it.
- We should probably go.
- We probably shouldn’t stay.
How Likely? Using Modifiers
We can use modifiers to make the adjectives stronger or weaker.
We can also use them in comparatives, with more and less and superlatives like the most or the least.
Examples;
- It is highly likely that it will rain this year.
- It is not likely that I will live to be 100.
- It is quite unlikely that I will buy a car.
- It is more likely that I will go camping than win the lottery.