भविष्य की भविष्यवाणी: 'Likely' और 'Unlikely' का उपयोग (हेजिंग)
likely, unlikely, hedging.
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'likely' and 'unlikely' to express probability with more precision and formality than 'maybe' or 'probably'.
- Use 'Subject + be + likely + to + verb' for personal predictions: 'He is likely to win.'
- Use 'It + be + likely + that + clause' for general situations: 'It is likely that prices will rise.'
- Modify with 'highly', 'more than', or 'very' to adjust the strength of the prediction.
Overview
likely और unlikely का इस्तेमाल करना आपकी भाषा को एक 'Expert Edge' देता है।It will finish on time, तो आप 100% गारंटी दे रहे हैं। लेकिन अगर कुछ गड़बड़ हो गई, तो आप जिम्मेदार होंगे। वहीं अगर आप कहते हैं, The project is likely to finish on time, तो आप न केवल आत्मविश्वास दिखा रहे हैं, बल्कि वास्तविकता को भी ध्यान में रख रहे हैं कि भविष्य अनिश्चित है। यही वह 'Diplomatic Language' है जो एक C1 लेवल के स्पीकर की पहचान है।likely और unlikely का सही इस्तेमाल करके आप अपनी प्रेडिक्शन (भविष्यवाणी) को और अधिक प्रभावशाली बना सकते हैं। हम देखेंगे कि कैसे ये शब्द 'Probably' से अलग हैं और हिंदी के 'संभावना' वाले वाक्यों को इंग्लिश में सही तरीके से कैसे ढाला जाए।likely और unlikely क्या हैं। कई लर्नर्स इन्हें 'Adverbs' समझने की गलती करते हैं, लेकिन असल में ये 'Adjectives' (विशेषण) हैं।likely सीधे कर्ता (Subject) की विशेषता बताता है या एक 'Impersonal construction' का हिस्सा बनता है।He is likely to win. | हिंदी में 'संभावना' एक वस्तु है, इंग्लिश में 'He' की स्थिति likely है। |The meeting is unlikely to happen today. | हिंदी में 'शायद' पूरे वाक्य पर लागू होता है, इंग्लिश में unlikely मीटिंग की विशेषता है। |It is likely that prices will rise. | दोनों में 'It/लगता है' का इस्तेमाल करके सामान्य संभावना दिखाई गई है। |likely का मतलब है 'जिसके होने की काफी उम्मीद हो' (High probability) और unlikely का मतलब है 'जिसके होने की उम्मीद बहुत कम हो' (Low probability)।is, am, are, was, were, will be) की ज़रूरत पड़ती है। आप सीधे It likely rains नहीं कह सकते (जो कि एक बहुत कॉमन गलती है), आपको कहना होगा It is likely to rain।likely और unlikely को इस्तेमाल करने के दो मुख्य तरीके हैं। इन दोनों को मास्टर करना C1 लेवल के लिए अनिवार्य है।Subject + be (is/are/was/etc.) + likely/unlikely + to + Verb (base form)Our team is likely to win the championship.(हमारी टीम के जीतने की संभावना है।)The stock market is unlikely to recover this month.(शेयर बाजार के इस महीने सुधरने की उम्मीद कम है।)You are likely to find him at the library.(तुम्हारे उसे लाइब्रेरी में पाने की संभावना है।)
to + verb (infinitive) का इस्तेमाल हो रहा है। हिंदी भाषी अक्सर यहाँ for या ing लगाने की गलती करते हैं, जिससे बचना चाहिए।It + be + likely/unlikely + that + Clause (Subject + Verb)It is likely that the government will introduce new taxes.(संभावना है कि सरकार नए टैक्स लाएगी।)It was unlikely that they would arrive on time given the traffic.(ट्रैफिक को देखते हुए उनके समय पर पहुँचने की संभावना कम थी।)It is highly likely that AI will change the job market.(इसकी पूरी संभावना है कि AI जॉब मार्केट को बदल देगा।)
- Highly likely / Very likely: (पूरी संभावना है) -
It is highly likely that... - Quite likely / More than likely: (काफी संभावना है) -
He is quite likely to accept the offer. - Extremely unlikely: (बिल्कुल भी उम्मीद नहीं है) -
It is extremely unlikely that the plan will fail. - Less likely: (कम संभावना है) -
Women are less likely to suffer from this particular disease.
Based on the Q3 results, we are likely to exceed our annual target.The current strategy is unlikely to yield the desired results.This strategy is bad कहने से कहीं ज़्यादा प्रोफेशनल है।Patients who exercise regularly are less likely to develop heart conditions.I am unlikely to make it to the party tonight, but I'll let you know.probably भी Adverb है, लेकिन likely मुख्य रूप से Adjective है।- Incorrect:
*He likely will come. - Correct:
He is likely to come.याIt is likely that he will come.
likely को एक 'Linking Verb' (is/am/are) की ज़रूरत होती है। हालांकि अमेरिकन इंग्लिश में कभी-कभी इसे Adverb की तरह इस्तेमाल किया जाता है, लेकिन C1 लेवल की फॉर्मल राइटिंग में यह गलत माना जाता है।likely के बाद to लगाना अनिवार्य है।- Incorrect:
*The price is likely increase. - Correct:
The price is likely to increase.
Possible का मतलब है कि कोई चीज़ हो *सकती* है (चाहे 1% चांस ही क्यों न हो)। Likely का मतलब है कि होने के चांस *50% से ज़्यादा* हैं।- गलत संदर्भ: अगर बादल भी नहीं हैं और आप कहें
It is likely to rain, तो यह गलत है। आपको कहना चाहिएIt is possible, but unlikely to rain.
unlikely अपने आप में नेगेटिव है, इसलिए इसके साथ not न लगायें।- Incorrect:
*It is not unlikely that...(यह डबल नेगेटिव हो जाएगा, जिसका मतलब 'संभावना है' निकल जाएगा।) - Correct:
It is unlikely that...
Probably | 70-80% | Adverb (Verb से पहले आता है) | I will probably go. |Likely | 60-90% | Adjective (be के साथ आता है) | I am likely to go. |Possible | 1-100% | Adjective (सिर्फ मुमकिन है) | It is possible, but not likely. |Bound to | 99-100% | निश्चितता (Inevitability) | You are bound to succeed. |Liable to | 50% + | अक्सर नकारात्मक प्रवृत्ति के लिए | The roof is liable to leak. |Probably थोड़ा अनौपचारिक (Informal) लग सकता है और इसे वाक्य के बीच में फिट करना आसान है। Likely अधिक परिष्कृत (Sophisticated) लगता है और यह वाक्य के स्ट्रक्चर को बदल देता है।He'll probably forget.(Simple)He is likely to forget.(Advanced/Formal)
likely को वाक्य के अंत में इस्तेमाल कर सकता हूँ?A storm is likely. यहाँ likely सीधे तौर पर 'Storm' की विशेषता बता रहा है। यह The storm is likely to happen का छोटा रूप है।Very likely और Most likely में क्या अंतर है?most likely अक्सर तब इस्तेमाल होता है जब आप कई विकल्पों में से सबसे संभावित विकल्प चुन रहे हों।Of all the candidates, she is the most likely to be hired.unlikely की जगह not likely कह सकते हैं?It is not likely to rain और It is unlikely to rain दोनों सही हैं। हालांकि, unlikely का इस्तेमाल करना अधिक प्रभावशाली और 'Native-like' लगता है।likely का इस्तेमाल पास्ट टेंस में हो सकता है?is/are को was/were में बदल दें।It was likely that they had missed the train. (संभावना थी कि उनकी ट्रेन छूट गई थी।)India will win (यह तो एक फैन की भावना है)। एक एक्सपर्ट की तरह कहें, India is highly likely to win the series given their current form.likely और unlikely केवल शब्द नहीं हैं, ये आपके सोचने के तरीके को दर्शाते हैं। एक C1 स्पीकर हमेशा 'Absolute certainty' से बचता है और तथ्यों के आधार पर 'Probability' की बात करता है। इन पैटर्न्स को अपनी अगली ईमेल या बातचीत में इस्तेमाल करके देखिये, आप खुद महसूस करेंगे कि आपकी इंग्लिश कितनी 'Professional' और 'Sophisticated' हो गई है।Forming Predictions with 'Likely'
| Subject | Verb 'to be' | Likelihood | Infinitive/Clause |
|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
likely
|
to attend
|
|
You
|
are
|
unlikely
|
to fail
|
|
It
|
is
|
highly likely
|
that it will rain
|
|
We
|
are
|
more than likely
|
to win
|
|
They
|
were
|
unlikely
|
to have known
|
|
The results
|
are
|
likely
|
to be significant
|
Common Contractions
| Full Form | Contracted Form |
|---|---|
|
It is likely
|
It's likely
|
|
They are unlikely
|
They're unlikely
|
|
I am not likely
|
I'm not likely
|
Meanings
The words 'likely' and 'unlikely' function as adjectives in English to indicate the probability of an event occurring. They are essential for 'hedging'—the practice of making cautious or vague statements to avoid over-generalization.
Predictive Adjective
Used to describe the probability of a future action or state.
“A recession is likely in the coming months.”
“It is unlikely that the team will recover from this loss.”
Academic Hedging
Used in research and formal reports to present findings as probable rather than absolute truths.
“The data suggests that these results are likely to be replicated.”
“It is highly unlikely that the variables are unrelated.”
Adverbial Usage (US English)
In American English, 'likely' is often used as an adverb meaning 'probably'.
“They'll likely arrive around six.”
“He will most likely decline the offer.”
Reference Table
| स्ट्रक्चर (Structure) | मतलब (Meaning) | Likely का उदाहरण | Unlikely का उदाहरण |
|---|---|---|---|
|
It is + likely/unlikely + that-clause
|
किसी स्थिति या घटना की संभावना
|
It is likely that prices will rise.
|
It is unlikely that they will agree.
|
|
Subject + be + likely/unlikely + to-infinitive
|
किसी व्यक्ति के कुछ करने की संभावना
|
She is likely to get the job.
|
He is unlikely to finish today.
|
|
It is + more/less likely + that-clause
|
संभावना का कम या ज़्यादा होना
|
It is more likely that he's busy.
|
It is less likely that she heard.
|
|
Subject + be + more/less likely + to-infinitive
|
सब्जेक्ट के एक्शन की कम/ज़्यादा संभावना
|
We are more likely to succeed.
|
They are less likely to complain.
|
|
Likely as an adjective (Formal)
|
संभावित या अपेक्षित
|
A likely outcome.
|
An unlikely scenario.
|
औपचारिकता का स्तर
It is highly likely that I shall be delayed. (Professional vs. Casual communication)
I am likely to be late. (Professional vs. Casual communication)
I'll likely be late. (Professional vs. Casual communication)
Prob gonna be late. (Professional vs. Casual communication)
स्तर के अनुसार उदाहरण
It is likely.
It is likely.
Is it likely?
Is it likely?
It is unlikely.
It is unlikely.
Very likely.
Very likely.
The train is likely to be late.
The train is likely to be late.
It is likely that he is at home.
It is likely that he is at home.
She is unlikely to come to the party.
She is unlikely to come to the party.
Are you likely to finish today?
Are you likely to finish today?
We are likely to see more rain this week.
We are likely to see more rain this week.
It's unlikely that they will change their minds.
It's unlikely that they will change their minds.
Is it likely to cost a lot of money?
Is it likely to cost a lot of money?
He is not likely to win the race.
He is not likely to win the race.
The government is likely to introduce new taxes.
The government is likely to introduce new taxes.
It is highly unlikely that the error was accidental.
It is highly unlikely that the error was accidental.
They are more than likely to accept the offer.
They are more than likely to accept the offer.
The project is unlikely to be completed on time.
The project is unlikely to be completed on time.
Such a scenario is highly likely to provoke a strong reaction.
Such a scenario is highly likely to provoke a strong reaction.
It is increasingly likely that the policy will be reversed.
It is increasingly likely that the policy will be reversed.
The findings are unlikely to have a significant impact on the field.
The findings are unlikely to have a significant impact on the field.
Is it not likely that the witness was mistaken?
Is it not likely that the witness was mistaken?
In all likelihood, the merger will proceed as planned.
In all likelihood, the merger will proceed as planned.
The candidate is singularly unlikely to garner enough support.
The candidate is singularly unlikely to garner enough support.
It remains highly likely that further interventions will be required.
It remains highly likely that further interventions will be required.
Were the results to be skewed, a re-evaluation would be likely.
Were the results to be skewed, a re-evaluation would be likely.
आसानी से भ्रमित होने वाले
Learners use 'likely' as an adverb without a modifier, which sounds unnatural in some dialects.
Both can mean 'probable', but 'liable' often implies a negative or legal responsibility.
Learners use 'likely' when they are 100% certain.
सामान्य गलतियाँ
I likely go.
I will probably go.
It likely.
It is likely.
Is likely?
Is it likely?
Very likely rain.
It is very likely to rain.
He is likely go.
He is likely to go.
It is likely that rain.
It is likely that it will rain.
I am unlikely for come.
I am unlikely to come.
He will likely to win.
He is likely to win.
It is likely him to win.
He is likely to win.
The likely result is it wins.
The likely result is that it will win.
He likely won't come.
He is unlikely to come.
It is likely that he comes tomorrow.
It is likely that he will come tomorrow.
The highly likelyhood of success.
The high likelihood of success.
It is unlikely for there to be a problem.
It is unlikely that there will be a problem.
वाक्य संरचनाएँ
Subject + be + likely + to + ___
It + is + ___ + likely + that + ___
___ + is + unlikely + to + ___
In all likelihood, ___
Real World Usage
Showers are likely in the afternoon.
We are likely to exceed our targets this quarter.
The treatment is likely to cause some fatigue.
They are unlikely to make a comeback at this stage.
It is likely that the results were influenced by sample size.
I'm likely to be a bit late, don't wait up!
Adjective vs. Adverb
It is likely. वहीं 'probably' एक adverb है: It will probably rain.
'to' को मत भूलना
Subject + be + likely + to-infinitive वाला स्ट्रक्चर इस्तेमाल करो, तो 'to' लगाना मत भूलना। She is likely winगलत है; सही होगा:
She is likely to win.
Hedging को और बेहतर बनाओ
It is highly likely that we will succeed.
प्रोफेशनल बातचीत में विनम्रता
The plan is likely to change.
Smart Tips
Switch from 'I think it will...' to 'It is likely that...'.
Use the 'Subject + be likely to' structure to keep the focus on the person.
Use 'more than likely' instead of just 'likely'.
Remember that 'Is it unlikely...?' is asking if something is NOT going to happen.
उच्चारण
Likely
Two syllables. Stress on the first syllable.
Unlikely
Three syllables. Stress on the second syllable.
Rising-Falling on 'Likely'
He is LIKELY to win. ↘
Conveys a confident prediction.
याद करें
स्मृति सहायक
L-I-K-E-L-Y: Look Into Known Evidence, Logically Yielding (a prediction).
दृश्य संबंध
Imagine a weather vane pointing towards a rain cloud. The vane represents 'likely'—it's not raining yet, but the evidence (the wind) suggests it will.
Rhyme
If it's likely to be, it's a future we see; if it's unlikely to occur, the vision is a blur.
Story
A cautious scientist named Dr. Hedge never says 'will'. When asked if the volcano will erupt, he says, 'It is likely to erupt, but it is unlikely to happen today.' He keeps his job because he is never wrong, just 'likely' right.
Word Web
चैलेंज
Write three predictions for your life in five years using 'likely to', 'unlikely to', and 'highly likely that'.
सांस्कृतिक नोट्स
British speakers are very fond of hedging to avoid appearing too direct or aggressive. Using 'likely' is a key part of polite, professional disagreement.
In the US, 'likely' is frequently used as an adverb (e.g., 'He likely forgot'). This is less common in formal British English.
In global academic culture, using 'likely' is a sign of intellectual humility and scientific rigor.
From Middle English 'likly', meaning 'having the appearance of being true'.
बातचीत की शुरुआत
What are you likely to do this weekend?
Is it likely that AI will replace most jobs in the next decade?
Which team is likely to win the next World Cup?
In your opinion, is it likely that we will discover life on other planets soon?
डायरी विषय
सामान्य गलतियाँ
Test Yourself
Given the traffic, we are ___ to arrive late for the movie.
Find and fix the mistake:
It unlikely that the flight will be delayed.
सही वाक्य चुनें:
Score: /3
अभ्यास प्रश्न
8 exercisesThe prices are ___ to rise next month.
Which sentence is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She likely to win the race.
I don't think it will rain.
Match the following:
A: Do you think they'll accept the offer? B: It's ___.
Identify the adjective:
likely / is / to / the / be / late / flight
Score: /8
Practice Bank
11 exercisesThe new game update is ___ to fix many of the existing bugs.
He likely will be late because of traffic.
कौन सा वाक्य 'unlikely' का सही इस्तेमाल करता है?
अंग्रेजी में अनुवाद करें: 'कल बारिश होने की बहुत संभावना है।'
इन शब्दों को एक सही वाक्य में व्यवस्थित करें:
वाक्य की शुरुआत को उसके सही अंत से मिलाएँ:
The concert tickets are selling fast, so it's ___ that they'll be available much longer.
Our professor likely will give us an extension.
सही वाक्य चुनें:
अनुवाद करें: 'संभावना कम है कि हम इसे समय पर पूरा कर लेंगे।'
शब्दों को सही क्रम में रखें:
Score: /11
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले सवाल (8)
Yes, especially in American English (e.g., 'He likely forgot'). However, in formal British English, it is better to use it as an adjective ('He is likely to have forgotten') or add a modifier ('He very likely forgot').
'Unlikely' is an adjective that feels a bit more formal and direct. 'Not likely' is simply the negation of the adjective 'likely'. Both are common, but 'unlikely' is preferred in academic writing.
Usually, yes. Since you are making a prediction, the 'that' clause needs a future marker like `will` or `is going to`. Example: `It is likely that he will win.`
Yes, 'likely' is generally considered more formal and objective, making it the preferred choice for reports, news, and academic papers.
Absolutely. 'Most likely' is a very common way to say 'almost certainly'. It can be used as an adverbial phrase: 'Most likely, we will stay home.'
This is a formal idiom that means 'almost certainly' or 'very probably'. It is a great phrase to use at the start of a sentence in C1-level writing.
Yes, by using the perfect infinitive: 'He is likely to have arrived by now.' This means it is probable that he arrived in the past.
Yes, it has a negative meaning (low probability), but it is grammatically affirmative. You don't need to add 'not' to 'unlikely'.
Scaffolded Practice
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2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Es probable que + subjunctive
Spanish requires the subjunctive mood.
Il est probable que + indicative/subjunctive
Nuance between probability and possibility affects mood.
Wahrscheinlich / Voraussichtlich
German prefers adverbs over the 'be likely to' adjective structure.
〜そうだ (sou da) / 〜らしい (rashii)
Japanese uses grammatical particles and suffixes rather than a 'to be' adjective structure.
من المحتمل أن (min al-muhtamal an)
Arabic uses a prepositional phrase structure.
很可能 (hěn kěnéng)
Chinese lacks the complex infinitive/clause distinction found in English.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
संबंधित वीडियो
07:45 Is it time to worry about bird flu?
06:27 Was Alexander the Great really that great? - Stephanie Honchell Smith
06:52 What happens to your brain without any social contact? - Terry Kupers
Use of Likely to and Unlikely to in English Grammar
Spoken English Guru
How to use Likely to in English | English Grammar in Hindi
Learn English with Let's Talk
Related Grammar Rules
सफलता के मुहावरे: तेज़ शुरुआत और शानदार परिणाम (Hit the Ground Running, Bear Fruit)
Overview क्या आपने कभी कोई नया वीडियो गेम शुरू किया है और तुरंत जान गए कि कौन सा बटन क्या करता है? या शायद आपने नई नौकर...
अंग्रेजी हेजिंग: 'Probably', 'Perhaps', और 'Possibly' का उपयोग
### अवलोकन किसी बात को कहने में कितनी निश्चितता (certainty) है, इसे व्यक्त करना सीखना अंग्रेजी में बहुत ज़रूरी है। लेकिन...
संघर्ष मुहावरे: लड़ना और शांति बनाना (गहन मतभेद में, पुरानी दुश्मनी भूलना)
Overview क्या आपने कभी अपने सबसे अच्छे दोस्त के साथ यह तय करने की कोशिश की है कि नेटफ्लिक्स पर कौन सा शो देखना है, लेकिन...
अंग्रेजी परिवर्तन मुहावरे (Turn Over a New Leaf और Sea Change)
Overview क्या आपने कभी खुद से वादा किया है कि आप आखिरकार सोमवार को उस वर्कआउट ऐप को शुरू करेंगे? शायद आपने नए सिरे से शु...
निर्णय और समय: दुविधा में होना और जल्दबाजी करना
### अवलोकन मुहावरे (idioms) भाषा के वो शॉर्टकट होते हैं जो हमें जटिल विचारों को संक्षिप्तता और सांस्कृतिक गहराई के साथ...
