What does be likely to mean? The structure be likely to in English

I have received many questions from students about this structure, accompanied by a lot of concerns.

Therefore, this article will help you understand thoroughly and clearly distinguish the structure be likely to from other structures. 

Let's explore together!

1. What does be likely to mean? 

Pronunciation: /bi/ /ˈlaɪ.kli/ /tuː/

Be likely to is a phrase used to describe a situation or action that is capable of happening, likely to occur, or tends to happen in the future. 

E.g.:

• He is likely to to go outside (Anh ấy có vẻ là sắp ra ngoài.)
• I am like to get sick (Có vẻ như tôi sắp bị bệnh rồi.)
• She is likely to be absent today. (Hôm nay có thể cô ấy sẽ vắng mặt.)

2. How to use the be likely to structure

The structure be likely to in English is used to express the possibility, probability of an event happening or not happening corresponding to two affirmative and negative structures.

2.1. Expressing the likelihood of an event or action

Cấu trúc: S + be likely to

Usage: The affirmative form is used to express the likelihood of an event or action.

E.g.:

• She is likely to forget all of my advice. (Khả năng cao là cô ấy sẽ quên hết lời khuyên của tôi.)
• My mom is likely to go to bed after having a conversation with us. (Có thể là mẹ tôi sẽ đi ngủ sau khi nói chuyện với chúng tôi xong.)
• I am likely to get a high score because I have prepared carefully for this exam. (Có thể tôi sẽ đạt điểm cao bởi vì tôi đã học tập chăm chỉ cho kì kiểm tra lần này.)

2.2. Expressing the impossibility of an event or action

Cấu trúc: S + be unlikely to/ be not likely to

Usage: The negative form is used to express the impossibility of an event or action.

E.g.:

• She is unlikely to attend the party. (Có thể cô ấy không tham gia buổi tiệc.)
• He is unlikely to agree on the terms of the contract. (Có thể anh ấy sẽ không đồng ý với điều khoản này của hợp đồng.)
• He is not likely to win the lottery. (Anh ấy không có khả năng trúng số.)

Note: Not likely and unlikely can be used interchangeably in meaning. However, unlikely carries a more formal tone.

E.g.: 

• She is not likely to attend the party. (Cô ấy sẽ không tham gia buổi tiệc.)
• She is unlikely to attend the party. (Có vẻ là cô ấy sẽ không tham dự được buổi tiệc.)

⇒ The structure unlikely to is used more in writing because it carries a formal tone, whereas the structure be likely to is often used in daily communication. 

3. The structure be likely to used for comparison

To emphasize the degree, likelihood of an event, people often use be likely to with words like as … as, more, (the) most, less and (the) least.

E.g.: 

• Men are more likely to join adventure games than women are. (Nam giới có xu hướng tham gia các hoạt động mạo hiểm nhiều hơn nữ giới.)
• I am less likely to
  go to school late after being fined. (Tôi trở nên ít đi học muộn hơn sau khi bị phạt.)
• She is as likely to get the same score as me because we worked for the same project. (Có lẽ cô ấy và tôi sẽ có số điểm giống nhau vì chúng tôi làm chung một dự án.)

4. Distinguishing between the structure be likely to and be bound to

In English, there are many ways to express the likelihood of something happening. There is often confusion between the structure be likely to and be bound to.

Below are the necessary information to help you easily distinguish between these two structures.

5. Exercises on the structure be likely to 

The exercises on the be likely to structure below are compiled from various reliable sources to help you effectively memorize and enhance your knowledge after each study session. Some common exercise types include:

• Trắc nghiệm chọn đáp án đúng A, B, C.
• Điền từ vào chỗ trống.
• Viết câu sử dụng cấu trúc be likely to.

Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer

(Exercise 1: Choose the correct answer)

1. Our students ……… excited for the summer vacation.

• A. are likely to be
• B. is likely to be
• C. have 

     2.    We ……… will have a picnic this weekend.

• A. are likely to 
• B. is likely to
• C. had

     3.    It ……… is going to rain heavily

• A. is likely to
• B. are likely to
• C. has been

     4.    He ……… should go to bed

• A. are likely to
• B. is likely to
• C. goes

     5.    We ……… will celebrate my birthday

• A. have
• B. is likely to
• C. are likely to

Exercise 2: Fill in the blank

(Exercise 2: Fill in the blank)

1. We are not likely to/ is not likely to have a picnic because of the bad weather.
2. He is likely to/ are likely to study all night.
3. Children are likely to/ is likely to be distracted by new toys.
4. This information is likely to/ are likely to be faked.
5. This tree are likely to/ is likely to grow stronger.

Exercise 3: Arrange these given words into a complete sentence 

(Exercise 3: Arrange these given words into a complete sentence)

1. is unlikely to/ course/ She/ the/ take/. 

=> ……………………………………………………………………………………

1. We/ sleep/ are likely to/ soon/ go to/.

=> ……………………………………………………………………………………

1. the exam/ is likely to/ he/ fail/.

=> ……………………………………………………………………………………

1. a lot/ study/ are likely to/ we/. 

=> ……………………………………………………………………………………

1. wind/ stronger/ the/ is likely to/ blow/.

=> ……………………………………………………………………………………

6. Kết bài

Vừa rồi chúng ta đã đi qua các điều cơ bản cần biết cũng như các cách áp dụng cấu trúc be likely to chính xác và hiệu quả trong các trường hợp khác nhau. 

Các bạn hãy nhớ chăm chỉ làm và xem lại các bài tập mình chuẩn bị riêng cho mọi người ở trên nhé. Vì đây là cấu trúc khá thông dụng trong các kì thi IELTS, TOEIC nên mọi người hãy thường xuyên củng cố kiến thức để “be likely to” đạt được kết quả tốt nhất.

Và đừng quên tất cả thắc mắc của mọi người sẽ được giải đáp dưới phần comment và hãy chú ý ghé thăm chuyên mục IELTS Grammar của Mytour để cập nhật thêm nhiều kiến thức nha! Chúc mọi người học vui vẻ nhé!