English Grammar

likely to

User since 2010
Posts: 2

27 Aug. 2012

Philip: Is Bruno likely to come back to the office this afternoon?
Polly: I don't think so, since he will most can likely go out with the board members after his meeting.

Hello,

In the second sentence, we can see : he will most can likely go...
Why "to" doesn't appear in the sentence just after likely ?

8 comments

AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
27 Aug. 2012

There is a cumbersome wretched word in Polly's answer, Delphine. It's the CAN that has nothing to do there.
Polly would say: ... he will most likely go out with board members ...

In Philip's say, likely is an adjective. "Is he likely to come back?"

In Polly's answer, likely is an adverb. The verb in the future is WILL GO OUT. He will go out. He will likely go out. He will most likely go out.

Gotcha, Delphine?
There is a cumbersome wretched word in Polly's answer, Delphine. It's the CAN that has nothing to do there. Polly would say: ... he will most likely go out with board members ... In Philip's say, likely is an adjective. "Is he likely to come back?" In Polly's answer, likely is an adverb. The verb in the future is WILL GO OUT. He will go out. He will likely go out. He will most likely go out. Gotcha, Delphine?
Andrew
Moderator
Posts: 58
28 Aug. 2012

Hello Delphine,

As AhQ wrote, the CAN doesn't belong in the sentence. Perhaps it you made a mistake and in the correction CAN was written in red?

@AhQ: Gotcha is used when you (the speaker) understand something. It can't be used to ask someone else if they've understood. In this case, you could say 'Got it?'.
Hello Delphine, As AhQ wrote, the CAN doesn't belong in the sentence. Perhaps it you made a mistake and in the correction CAN was written in red? @AhQ: Gotcha is used when you (the speaker) understand something. It can't be used to ask someone else if they've understood. In this case, you could say 'Got it?'.
Delphine Decan
User since 2010
Posts: 2
29 Aug. 2012

Got it !

I made a mistake when I wrote CAN (sorry for this)

Many thanks
Delphine
Got it ! I made a mistake when I wrote CAN (sorry for this) Many thanks Delphine
AhQ ['a: kiu]
User since 2006
Posts: 2715
31 Aug. 2012

Thank you so much, Andrew, for curing me of a wrong idea of what 'gotcha' meant.
If I am not mistaken, Delphine could have said 'gotcha !' as well.
You are great !
Thank you so much, Andrew, for curing me of a wrong idea of what 'gotcha' meant. If I am not mistaken, Delphine could have said 'gotcha !' as well. You are great !
Dwight
User since 2012
Posts: 32
7 Sept. 2012

This post was deleted by the author 7 years, 2 months ago.

"Gotcha" is one of these phrases that have more than only one meaning. I've learned it primarily in the colloquial sense of "I've got you caught", meaning "I have caught you in the act", doing something forbidden, for example, as expressed in the idiom "with the hand in the cookie jar". "Gotcha" in the literal sense "Got you!" can also mean "I've got what you said", I understand what you said.
Kurtleen
User since 2012
Posts: 11
18 Sept. 2012

Hi, "May" cannot be used in an interrogative clause.

"Is it likely to" replaces "may" in interrogative sentence.

Philip: Is Bruno likely to come back to the office this afternoon? the answer could be : "Yes, Bruno may come back to the office this afternoon, if his mother feels better and can stay alone at home".

Polly would say: ... he will most likely stay with her until she feels better, you know, she was very ill last night, and she still has a high temperature.

but in affirmative clause : "may" and "will likely" seem to not have the same sens.

May : he can (it's a possibility)

Will likely : it's preferable

I think you may understand, feel and then use the one or the other.

Regards
Hi, "May" cannot be used in an interrogative clause. "Is it likely to" replaces "may" in interrogative sentence. Philip: Is Bruno likely to come back to the office this afternoon? the answer could be : "Yes, Bruno may come back to the office this afternoon, if his mother feels better and can stay alone at home". Polly would say: ... he will most likely stay with her until she feels better, you know, she was very ill last night, and she still has a high temperature. but in affirmative clause : "may" and "will likely" seem to not have the same sens. May : he can (it's a possibility) Will likely : it's preferable I think you may understand, feel and then use the one or the other. Regards
Idoine91
User since 2012
Posts: 49
19 Sept. 2012

...Kurtleen, I learned (long ago) we could say : "May I come with you ?" for example... In fact, it seems to be only with "I" or "we"... Then it has the meaning of "could", as when we ask permission...
...Kurtleen, I learned (long ago) we could say : "May I come with you ?" for example... In fact, it seems to be only with "I" or "we"... Then it has the meaning of "could", as when we ask permission...
Kurtleen
User since 2012
Posts: 11
19 Sept. 2012

Hi idoine91.

Thanks .. Yes, it's true ...

Yesterday, i continued my research and i found : "May i talk to you for a minute Sir?"

and indeed it has the meaning of "could", as when we ask permission...

whereas "Is it likely to rain tomorrow?" it's not a permission, it's an eventuality, an uncertainty about whether yes or not, it rains tomorrow.

Have a good day, and thanks again !
Hi idoine91. Thanks .. Yes, it's true ... Yesterday, i continued my research and i found : "May i talk to you for a minute Sir?" and indeed it has the meaning of "could", as when we ask permission... whereas "Is it likely to rain tomorrow?" it's not a permission, it's an eventuality, an uncertainty about whether yes or not, it rains tomorrow. Have a good day, and thanks again !

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