In English communication, expressing the degree of certainty or the probability of an event is crucial. Are you sure it will rain? Is your favorite team likely to win the championship? To answer these questions naturally and accurately, mastering the use of "likely" and "unlikely" is essential. These two adjectives are not only common in daily life but are also powerful tools to help you score points in academic exams like IELTS. This article will provide a comprehensive overview, from grammatical structures to practical applications, to help you confidently use this pair of words to assess any possibility.

How Do You Use "Likely" Correctly?

"Likely" is an adjective that means "probable or expected to happen." It is used to indicate that an event or action has a high probability of occurring. To use "likely" correctly, you need to master the following two main grammatical structures.

1. Structure: Subject + be + likely + to + Verb (infinitive)

This is the most common structure, used to talk about the probability of a subject performing an action. The verb "to be" is conjugated according to the tense and the subject.

• Example 1: Based on the dark clouds, it is likely to rain soon.
• Example 2: She studied hard for the exam, so she is likely to get a high score.
• Example 3: The company's profits have been increasing, so they are likely to expand next year.

2. Structure: It is likely that + Clause (Subject + Verb)

This structure is slightly more formal, using the dummy subject "It" to make a general statement about the probability of a complete clause.

• Example 1: It is likely that the government will introduce new tax policies.
• Example 2: It is likely that the flight will be delayed due to the bad weather.

To increase or decrease the degree of certainty, you can add adverbs like very, highly, quite, most before "likely".

• He is very likely to win the competition.
• It is highly likely that the project will be successful.

When Should You Use "Unlikely"?

In contrast to "likely", "unlikely" is also an adjective but means "not probable, not expected to happen." It is used to describe an event with a very low probability of occurring. Similar to "likely", "unlikely" also has two main structures.

1. Structure: Subject + be + unlikely + to + Verb (infinitive)

This structure is used to say that a subject has a low probability of performing an action.

• Example 1: He hasn't practiced at all, so he is unlikely to win the match.
• Example 2: Given the current economic climate, the company is unlikely to hire new staff.

2. Structure: It is unlikely that + Clause (Subject + Verb)

This structure expresses that an event is not expected to happen.

• Example 1: It is unlikely that she will forgive him so easily.
• Example 2: It is highly unlikely that we will finish the report by tomorrow.

What Is the Difference Between "Likely/Unlikely" and "Probably/Possibly"?

Many English learners confuse these words because they all express probability. However, the core difference lies in their word class and how they are used in a sentence.

• Likely/Unlikely: Are adjectives. They typically follow the verb "to be" and require a "to-infinitive" or a "that" clause after them.
• Probably/Possibly: Are adverbs. They modify verbs and usually come before the main verb or after the verb "to be".

Consider the following comparative examples:

• Correct: It is likely that they will arrive late.
• Correct: They will probably arrive late.
• Incorrect: It is probably that they will arrive late.


• Correct: She is unlikely to agree.
• Correct: She probably won't agree.
• Incorrect: She is probably to agree.

In terms of the degree of certainty, we can arrange them as follows: Probably (very likely) > Likely (has a good chance) > Possibly (could happen, but less certain).

How Can You Apply "Likely/Unlikely" in the IELTS Exam?

In the IELTS exam, the ability to speculate and make predictions flexibly is crucial, especially in the Speaking and Writing sections. Using "likely" and "unlikely" will help you demonstrate a rich vocabulary and diverse grammatical structures.

In IELTS Speaking Part 3:

This part often requires you to discuss abstract topics and make predictions about the future. When discussing future topics, the skill of Speculating IELTS is very important. You can use these structures to give impressive answers.

Question: Do you think robots will replace all human jobs in the future?

Sample Answer: "That's an interesting question. While it's highly likely that automation and AI will take over many repetitive tasks, I think it's unlikely that robots will completely replace all human jobs. Professions that require creativity, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence, such as artists, scientists, or therapists, are unlikely to be replaced by machines."

In IELTS Writing Task 2:

When writing an essay, you need to present arguments, analyze trends, or propose solutions. "Likely" and "unlikely" help you present these ideas more objectively and academically.

Topic: As cities become more crowded, there is a growing trend of people moving to rural areas. What are the benefits and drawbacks of this trend?

Sample Paragraph: "One significant drawback is the potential strain on rural infrastructure. If a large number of city dwellers relocate, rural communities are likely to face challenges such as overloaded public services and increased traffic. Furthermore, it is unlikely that these areas will have enough job opportunities to accommodate the influx of new residents, potentially leading to higher unemployment rates."

What Are Other Phrases for Expressing Probability?

To enrich your expression, you can use the following synonymous phrases:

• There is a good/strong/high chance that...: There is a strong chance that our team will win.
• There is a slim/slight/remote chance that...: There is only a slim chance that he will recover.
• The odds are (that)...: The odds are that the weather will be sunny tomorrow.
• In all likelihood/probability...: In all likelihood, the meeting will be canceled.
• To be bound/certain/sure to...: She is bound to do well on the test.
• It's doubtful that...: It's doubtful that the new policy will be effective.

In conclusion, thoroughly understanding and skillfully applying Likely and Unlikely not only helps you communicate more accurately but also significantly enhances the quality of your English exams. By practicing regularly with the provided structures and examples, you will soon master this useful linguistic tool. Start applying them today to see the difference!

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