Explanation
Exercises
Talking Probability — likely, unlikely, bound to, etc.
adjectives: likely/unlikely, bound/sure/certain adverbs: definitely, probably, perhaps/maybe

How strong is the prediction?

StrengthUseful languageExample
100% / almost certain be bound/sure/certain to + V The final is bound to be intense.
highly probable be likely to + V • It’s likely that + clause • will probably She’s likely to win. / It’s likely that sales will rise.
neutral / possible may/might/could + V • perhaps / maybe We might get a delay. Maybe it’ll rain.
improbable be unlikely to + V • It’s unlikely that + clause They’re unlikely to agree today.
impossible can’t (present deduction) He can’t be at home — he’s at work.

bound / sure / certain (near certainty)

  • He is bound/sure/certain to get the job.
  • There is bound to be some traffic on Friday.

bound to is neutral–informal; certain to is more formal.

likely / unlikely (adjectives)

  • Structure 1 It’s likely/unlikely that she’ll call.
  • Structure 2 She is likely/unlikely to call.
  • Gradable quite/very/fairly likely; comparative/superlative: more/less likely, the most likely.

❌ He will unlikely win → ✔ He is unlikely to win / He probably won’t win.

definitely / probably / perhaps / maybe (adverbs)

AffirmativeNegativeSentence adverbsExamples
Before the main verb; after be or an auxiliary Before the negative auxiliary in short forms; with full forms → after aux and before not maybe, perhaps usually at the beginning (or before the clause) You’ll definitely get an email.
They probably won’t find it. / They will probably not find it.
Maybe he’ll text later. Perhaps we should wait.

may / might / could for present & future possibility

  • We may/might/could need extra seats.
  • Negative may/might not happen (avoid ✖ could not for possibility).
  • Degree might is usually a little weaker than may; could is neutral about probability.

“Chance / odds” nouns (informal to neutral)

  • There’s a good/real chance (that) the price will drop.
  • The odds are (that) she’ll accept.
  • There’s little/slim chance of rain today.

Compare with deduction (now vs future)

  • Deduction (now) He must be at work. / He can’t be at home.
  • Prediction (future) He is likely to be at work tomorrow. / He probably won’t be at home.

Common pitfalls

  • Word order: ✔ He will probably win / He probably won’t win, not ✖ He probably will win not.
  • Likely is an adjective → needs be or It is… that.
  • Bound to is typically positive; not bound to is uncommon—use unlikely to instead.

For certainty about the past, use must/can’t/might + have + V3 (see “Past deduction with modals”).

Exercises:
1
2
3

Talking Probability: likely, unlikely, bound to, etc.

Use likely, unlikely, bound, definitely, probably correctly to fill the gaps below.
1
With the new striker, the team finish in the top three.
2
Keep practising every day and you improve.
3
Without fresh funding, the startup survive the winter.
4
According to the forecast, it rain tonight.
5
The stage manager has checked every cue twice; the show start on time.
6
With only five participants, the results be statistically significant.
7
Once the patch rolls out, the app load faster.
8
After three warnings, he change his attitude.
9
Given her excellent references, Maya get the position.
10
If sales continue like this, revenue hit a record in Q4.

Talking Probability: likely, unlikely, bound to, etc.

Choose the correct forms of likely, unlikely, bound, definitely, probably for these sentences.
1
It’s ____ rain later this afternoon.
A.
B.
C.
2
They will ____ finish the report by noon; the draft is almost done.
A.
B.
C.
3
With that experience, he ____ get the job.
A.
B.
C.
4
The roads are icy, so there’s ____ be a delay.
A.
B.
C.
5
It’s ____ that the meeting will run over time.
A.
B.
C.
6
They ____ make the playoffs this year — the team is too inconsistent.
A.
B.
C.
7
He’s practiced every day; he’ll ____ pass the exam.
A.
B.
C.
8
I’ll ____ see her in the office these days.
A.
B.
C.
9
Given the guarantee, the package will ____ arrive tomorrow.
A.
B.
C.
10
“Do you think the startup will survive?” — “It’s ____; they’re burning cash.”
A.
B.
C.

Talking Probability: likely, unlikely, bound to, etc.

Write sentences with similar meanings. Use the words in brackets.
1
It probably won’t rain this afternoon. ⇒ It this afternoon. (unlikely)
2
I’m sure she’ll pass the driving test. ⇒ She the driving test. (certain)
3
There’s almost no chance that they will agree. ⇒ They . (very unlikely)
4
I’m positive he’ll call tonight. ⇒ He tonight. (definitely)
5
We expect the results to be published tomorrow. ⇒ The results tomorrow. (likely)
6
With his experience, he’ll get the job for sure. ⇒ He the job. (bound)
7
There’s a good chance we’ll meet Mark at the conference. ⇒ We Mark at the conference. (likely)
8
It’s possible that she forgot your message. ⇒ She your message. (might)
9
I’m almost sure the package has arrived. ⇒ The package arrived. (almost certainly)
10
There’s no chance that the store will open today. ⇒ The store today. (certainly not)