LIKELIHOOD - WordPress.com… · Web viewgetting a promotion next month? Ans: He might, he might not. It all depends. 2. What are the chances/odds of SUBJECT + GERUND (+ time clause)?

LIKELIHOOD – degrees of certainty___________________________________________________________________________

100%

50%

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QUESTION FORMS1. What is the likelihood of SUBJECT + GERUND (+ time clause)?e.g. What is the likelihood of oil running out in the next century?

Ans: It’s highly likely that it’ll run out at the end of the next century.

e.g. What is the likelihood of him getting a promotion next month?

Ans: He might, he might not. It all depends.

2. What are the chances/odds of SUBJECT + GERUND (+ time clause)?e.g. What are the chances of electric cars being the norm in the next fifty years?

________________________________________________________________________________________________________Sources: Citylinks; International Express Intermediate, Unit 7; Market Leader Business Grammar Page 1

definitely

extremely likely

highly likely

Very/pretty likely

quite likely

Maybe/maybe not. It’s a 50/50 chance

likely

quite unlikely

unlikely

Very/pretty unlikely

highly unlikely

extremely unlikely

definitely not

Ans: It’s quite likely that there’ll be a lot more electric cars around in the next fifty years.

e.g. What are the chances of Apple halving the price of iPhones and iPads as a one-off?

Ans: It’s extremely unlikely that Apple will hugely discount their products, particularly close to Christmas.

3. How likely + BE + SUBJECT (subj pronoun) + ‘TO’ INFINITIVE + (+ time clause)?e.g. How likely is the average size of the smart phone to increase in the short-term?

Ans: Oh, that probably won’t happen that soon. / It’s pretty unlikely to happen for a while yet.

There’s a slim chance that smart phones will be even bigger by next year.

There isn’t a hope in hell that smart phones will be closer to the size of tablets by next year.

e.g. How likely is it to rain this weekend?

Ans: It’s quite likely that it’ll rain all weekend. What a bummer!!

e.g. How likely is he to get a promotion this year?

4. BE + SUBJECT + LIKELY + TO INFINITIVE + (+ time clause)?Are you likely to get married soon?

Is he likely to buy a house some time?

Examples of possible question constructions:

When are you likely to move house?

Is there any chance of Peter/him changing his mind?

Is there any chance that Peter/he will change his mind?

Examples of possible response constructions:

In all likelihood, it will happen. The evidence points to that.

It may well happen.

It’s very likely to happen.

It’s bound to happen, considering the statistics.

It’s a foregone conclusion.

I think they are on the verge of moving house.

They are about to buy a house.

It’s anyone’s guess whether it will happen or not.

It’s by no means certain.

It’s highly unlikely to happen. Fat chance!!!

Modal Verbs for Speculation and DeductionPRESENT PAST

He may/might be out (may/might have been out) possible but not certain

He could be at the supermarket (could’ve been at …) possible


They should be in Rome now. (should have arrived in Rome…) reasonably certain

He must be asleep. (must have been asleep) certain

They can’t be at home. (can’t have been at home) impossible

PROBABILITY – Exercises__________________________________________________________________________

Ex. 1. Rewrite the sentences using the words given in brackets.

1. I’m sure he will face some tough questions from reporters. (bound to)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. It’s very probable that the government will lose the vote. (may well)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

3. I don’t think they will have sold out of tickets yet. (unlikely)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

4. I expect she’ll be given a warm reception when she arrives. (likely)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

5. They will sign a new five-year contract in the next few days. (verge)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

6. The 50-storey building will be demolished this week. (about)

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Ex. 2. Use the modal verbs must / should / may / might / can’t to made deductions about present

situations.

1. He left an hour ago and it’s not far, so he _____________ be there by now. (very certain)

2. He left 45 minutes ago and it’s not far, so he _____________ be there by now. (reasonably certain)

3. He left 30 minutes ago and it’s not far, so he _____________ be there by now. (possible but not certain)

4. He only left 15 minutes ago and it’s quite far, so he _____________ be there yet. (impossible)

Ex. 3. Speculating about the past – use must / can’t/ couldn’t have in the perfect form to complete the

sentences.

1. The door was locked so the thieves ______________________________ (get) in through the window.

2. I wasn’t there myself but the atmosphere ______________________________ (be) electric.

3. He says he met me in Brussels but he ______________________________ - I’ve never been there.

4. She looked so sad after the exam, she ______________________________ (do) well in the exam.


PROBABILITY – Speaking Practice_____________________________________________________________________________

Ex. 4. Choose the two correct forms in each sentence.

Ex. 5 There are mistakes in some of the sentences.. Identify the mistakes and write the correct forms.


1. A: I bet / guess / hope they do better than they did last year.B: Fat / No / Impossible chance!

2. A: The British guy doesn’t have a chance / an opportunity / a hope of winning.B: I don’t know. I think he’s got a similar / an even / a reasonable chance.

3. There’s a definite / slim / distinct possibility that they’ll call an election sometime this year and the likelihood / possibility / probability is that he Conservatives will win.

4. The chances of Leeds FC every winning the title are pretty slender / slim / skinny.

5. The odds / chances / possibilities are I won’t get into Cambridge University, but it’s worth a try.

6. You shouldn’t worry about it so much. I mean, what are the odds / chances / possibilities of any of us actually getting killed in an aeroplane? Pretty low / little / slim, I would’ve thought.

7. I’ll do my best to finish the report by Friday, but in all likelihood / chances / probability, it won’t be ready till Monday.

1. Jim didn’t leave work until 6.00, so he won’t likely be here before 7.00.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

2. My glasses aren’t in their usual place. Someone must move them.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

3. A: Do you know where Ann is?B: She should be in the library. That’s where she said she was going.………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. A: What’s that noise in the garage? B: I think it can be the neighbour’s cat.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. I’m sure Chelsea FC will win tonight. They’re unlikely to lose three times in a row.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

6. I think you should delete that photo of Jason. He won’t definitely like it.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

7. Julian is bound be late – he always is.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

8. No one’s answering the phone at the shop. I’d say they’ve probably gone home.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

9. I don’t think Marta has gone to bed yet. I think she must sill study. She has an exam in the morning.

…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

10. It’s quite likely that the boss will retire in a year or two

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Ex. 6. Work in groups/pairs and ask each other questions on the probability of something happening and add a time clause at the end of your question. You may invent your answers, or use the ideas listed below.

Give reasons for your answers using ‘unless’, ‘until’, ‘if’, if possible

Ex. 7. Speculating: Match the sentence halves and complete the blanks with must or can’t

Ex. 8. Look at the following ways of expressing degrees of certainty. Speculate about:


Why one of your colleagues is not at work today (give evidence to suggest why that might be).

You have some building works being done on site where you work. o What was the cause of the very loud noise you just heard?

The contracted company doing the building works is on strike. What might have caused this problem to arise?

The number of battered housewives is increasing. What do you think might be the causes for this?

‘Obesity’ is becoming more pronounced in Spanish society. Why could this be happening?

The new bus lanes, separated by blue plastic separators on the road, are not working to plan, in fact, they are pretty battered. Why might that be?

1. Petrol cars being replaced by electric cars (this decade/in two or three decades).

2. More people working from home.

3. The number of smokers being negligible in the next 10 years.

4. Oil running out in the next century.

5. The national economy growing substantially in the next five years.

6. House prices going down in the next five years.

1. She looks so young a) She ……………………. come from a bilingual bilingual family.

2. She can speak English and Spanish perfectly. b) she ….....can’t……….. be a day over 30.

3. She ……………………. know what’s in the report. c) she works 60 hours a week.

4. She ……………………. have friends in high places. d) she lived there for three years.

5. She ……………………. know Berlin pretty well. e) she hasn’t been given a copy.

6. She ……………………. Have much of a social life f) because she’s survived three major scandals.

Ex. 9. Making hypotheses: What can you infer from these situations? Discuss in small groups.

Ex. 10. In groups, discuss the following points.

Ex. 11. In groups, discuss the following points


1. The director suddenly bought a huge block of shares when everybody else was selling theirs. The share price soared by 25%. He sold his shares and made a kill.

2. The fish in the canteen smelt strange yesterday and subsequently a number of employees have not come in to work today.

3. There is an unexplained loss of £1.5 million in the company accounts and the finance director has been absent from work for the last eight days – no one knows where he is.

4. There is always heavy traffic in the rush hour, but today, the traffic just isn’t moving.

1. The number of smokers will be negligible in the next 10 years.

2. Tobacco manufacturers will face a price war with fewer and fewer smokers.

3. Tobacco manufacturers will cease to exist towards the end of the current century.

4. The boom in house prices will bust in the next five years.

5. The infrastructure of the M30 will be sufficiently redeveloped to cope with the multiplicity cars.

6. The Government will have a reshuffle of ministerial posts in the next year.


1. Do you think you will be better or worse off than your parents in your lifetime?

2. Do you think the world in general will have become a better or worse place in fifty years’ time?

3. Are you (or your children) likely to be living in your own home by the time you (or they) are thirty?

4. Do you think that having a lower income necessarily means a worse quality of life (and vice versa)?

5. Do you think a richer generation should help their children financially when they are adults?

ANSWERS

Ex. 1 1. He’s bound to face some touch questions …2. The Government may well lose the vote.3. It’s unlikely that they will have sold out of tickets yet.4. It’s likely that she’ll be given a warm welcome when she arrives.5. They are on the verge of signing a new five-year contract in the next few days.6. The 50-storey building is about to be demolished.

Ex. 21. must, 2 should 3 may/might 4 can’t

Ex. 31. must have got in through … 3. he couldn’t have / can’t have, I’ve never been2. must have been electric 4. She couldn’t / can’t have done well

Ex. 4 – Source: English File Advanced, 3rd Edition, Unit19, p115. Answers – words not possible

1 guess / Impossible 2 an opportunity / similar 3 slim / possibility 4 skinny5 possibilities 6 possibilities / little 7 chances

Ex. 5 - Source: English File Advanced, 3rd Edition, Unit19, p115.

Answers1. Incorrect. He’s unlikely to be here before 7.00 / He isn’t likely to be here before 7.002. Incorrect. Someone must have moved them.3. Correct4. Incorrect. It must be the neighbour’s cat.5. Correct.6. Incorrect. He definitely won’t like it.7. Incorrect. Julian is bound TO BE late8. Correct.9. Incorrect. I think she must still be studying.10. Correct


PRACTICE_______________________________________________________________________________

Work in groups/pairs and ask each other questions on the probability of something happening and add a time clause at the end of your question. You may invent your answers, or use the ideas listed below.


1. The number of active smokers will be negligible in the next 10 years.

2. Tobacco manufacturers will face a price war with fewer and fewer smokers.

3. Tobacco manufacturers will cease to exist towards the end of the current century.

4. The boom in house prices will bust in the next five years.

5. The infrastructure of the M30 will be sufficiently redeveloped to cope with the multiplicity of urban development in the near future.

6. The Government will have a reshuffle of ministerial posts in the next year.

7. Travelling on business several times next month.

8. You will make speeches on health issues in the next few months.

9. The Avian Flu will become a serious pandemic threat during the next decade.





Functions: Forecasting and Speculating_____________________________________________________________________


Functions: Forecasting and Speculating_____________________________________________________________________


EXPRESSING DEGREES OF CERTAINTY___________________________________________________________________

CERTAIN

75% CERTAIN

POSSIBLE

UNLIKELY

IMPOSSIBLE


He/it must (be) …. (present/future situations)

She/it must have been … (past situations)

It’s quite likely that …

She/it probably …

There’s every chance that …./of …..-ing….

I wouldn’t be surprised if… (+past or past perfect tense)

He may well (be) …

I bet/ guess …

I should think / imagine that …

She ( it could / may / might (be) …

He / it could / may / might have (been) …

There’s a chance that / of …

There’s always a possibility that / of …

I doubt whether / if / that …

I’ll be surprised if … (+ present tense)

I’d be surprised if … (+ past tense)

I don’t expect …

There’s little chance that/of …

He/ it can’t be …

She / it can’t have (been) …

There’s no chance that …

EXPRESSING DEGREES OF CERTAINTY___________________________________________________________________

CERTAIN

75% CERTAIN

UNLIKELY

POSSIBLE

IMPOSSIBLE


He/it must (be) …. (present/future situations)

She/it must have been … (past situations)

It’s quite likely that …

She/it probably …

There’s every chance that …./of …..-ing….

I wouldn’t be surprised if…

o (+ past or past perfect tense)

He may well (be) …

I bet/ guess …

I should think / imagine that …

She / it could / may / might (be) …

He / it could / may / might have (been) …

There’s a chance that / of …

There’s always a possibility that / of …

I doubt whether / if / that …

I’ll be surprised if … (+ present tense)

I’d be surprised if … (+ past tense)

I don’t expect …

There’s little chance that/of …

He/ it can’t be …

She / it can’t have (been) …

There’s no chance that …

Speculating/Expressing degrees of certainty___________________________________________________________________

Work in groups/pairs and ask each other questions on the probability of something happening and add a time clause at the end of your question. You may invent your answers, or use the ideas listed below.




1. Travelling on business.

2. Going to someone’s birthday party.

3. The weather being good/bad.

4. Getting a promotion.



7. Smoking being banned in all public areas.


9. The company growing dramatically.

10. House prices going down, finally.

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LIKELIHOOD - WordPress.com… · Web viewgetting a promotion next month? Ans: He might, he might not. It all depends. 2. What are the chances/odds of SUBJECT + GERUND (+ time clause)?