Expressing Likelihood: Bound To, Certain To, Likely To, and More
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use specific modal phrases like 'bound to' or 'likely to' to express varying degrees of certainty about future events.
- Use 'bound to' for near-certainty: 'It is bound to rain later.'
- Use 'likely to' for high probability: 'They are likely to arrive soon.'
- Use 'unlikely to' for low probability: 'He is unlikely to change his mind.'
English offers a gradient of expressions for likelihood — from near certainty to remote possibility. Choosing carefully signals both your confidence level and your register.
Near Certainty
bound to: The delay is bound to affect customer satisfaction.
certain to: This finding is certain to provoke debate.
all but certain: The outcome is all but certain.
High Probability
likely to: The report is likely to be published in March.
expected to: Revenues are expected to grow by 8%.
set to: The committee is set to announce its findings Friday.
Moderate Probability
may well: The policy may well deter investment.
could well: The situation could well deteriorate.
there is every likelihood: There is every likelihood that talks will resume.
Low Probability
unlikely to: The plan is unlikely to win support.
doubtful: It is doubtful that a compromise can be reached.
conceivable: It is conceivable that the results were misread.
Two Structures
✅ The team is likely to exceed the target.
✅ It is likely that the team will exceed the target.
❌ The team is likely exceeding...
Formation of Likelihood Modals
| Subject | Verb 'to be' | Adjective | Infinitive | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
I
|
am
|
likely
|
to go
|
I am likely to go.
|
|
You
|
are
|
bound
|
to win
|
You are bound to win.
|
|
He/She/It
|
is
|
unlikely
|
to stay
|
He is unlikely to stay.
|
|
We
|
are
|
certain
|
to arrive
|
We are certain to arrive.
|
|
They
|
are
|
likely
|
to call
|
They are likely to call.
|
|
It
|
is
|
bound
|
to rain
|
It is bound to rain.
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
I am likely to
|
I'm likely to
|
|
He is bound to
|
He's bound to
|
|
They are unlikely to
|
They're unlikely to
|
Meanings
These structures allow speakers to quantify their confidence in a future outcome or state.
Inevitable certainty
Expressing that something is almost certain to happen.
“It is bound to be a long day.”
“Success is bound to follow hard work.”
High probability
Expressing that something is expected to happen.
“She is likely to win the election.”
“Prices are likely to rise next month.”
Low probability
Expressing that something is not expected to happen.
“It is unlikely to snow in July.”
“They are unlikely to accept our offer.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + be + likely + to + V
|
It is likely to happen.
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + be + not + likely + to + V
|
It is not likely to happen.
|
|
Question
|
Be + Subj + likely + to + V?
|
Is it likely to happen?
|
|
Certainty
|
Subj + be + bound + to + V
|
It is bound to happen.
|
|
Low Prob
|
Subj + be + unlikely + to + V
|
It is unlikely to happen.
|
|
Short Answer
|
Yes, it is / No, it isn't
|
Is it likely? Yes, it is.
|
Formality Spectrum
It is likely that the train will be delayed. (Travel)
The train is likely to be delayed. (Travel)
The train's probably gonna be late. (Travel)
Train's gonna be late, for sure. (Travel)
The Likelihood Spectrum
High
- Bound to 100% sure
Medium
- Likely to 75% sure
Low
- Unlikely to 25% sure
Examples by Level
It is likely to rain.
He is likely to come.
They are likely to win.
It is unlikely to be cold.
She is bound to be happy.
Is he likely to call?
We are unlikely to finish today.
The train is bound to arrive soon.
The team is bound to succeed with this plan.
It is highly likely to cause problems.
He is unlikely to change his mind now.
Are they likely to agree to these terms?
Given the current data, the market is likely to stabilize.
It is bound to be a challenging transition.
Such a decision is unlikely to be popular.
Is it bound to happen regardless of our input?
The proposed legislation is bound to face significant opposition.
It is highly unlikely to yield the desired results.
Analysts are likely to interpret this as a sign of weakness.
The outcome is bound to be complex.
Such a radical shift is bound to precipitate a crisis.
It is unlikely to be a mere coincidence.
The evidence is likely to be deemed inadmissible.
One is bound to wonder about the underlying motives.
Easily Confused
Learners often mix up the adjective 'likely' with the adverb 'probably'.
Both express high certainty, but 'bound to' is more idiomatic.
They mean the same, but 'unlikely' is more concise.
Common Mistakes
It likely to rain.
It is likely to rain.
He is bound to not go.
He is unlikely to go.
It is likely that to rain.
It is likely to rain.
They are bound to coming.
They are bound to come.
Are likely they to win?
Are they likely to win?
It is bound to be happen.
It is bound to happen.
He is not likely to be go.
He is not likely to go.
It is bound to not work.
It is unlikely to work.
She is certain to be arrive.
She is certain to arrive.
They are likely that they will come.
They are likely to come.
The results are bound to be seen as a failure.
The results are likely to be seen as a failure.
It is unlikely to be not the case.
It is likely to be the case.
He is bound to have been arrived.
He is bound to have arrived.
The market is bound to be likely to crash.
The market is likely to crash.
Sentence Patterns
It is ___ to happen.
They are ___ to arrive on time.
The outcome is ___ to be complex.
Given the evidence, it is ___ to be true.
Real World Usage
It is likely to rain in the afternoon.
The deal is bound to close by Friday.
It's bound to be a blast!
I am likely to bring a fresh perspective.
The flight is unlikely to be on time.
This movie is bound to win an Oscar.
Use 'bound to' for emphasis
Avoid negative 'bound to'
Hedging in writing
Register matters
Smart Tips
Use 'likely to' to sound more objective.
Use 'bound to' to show excitement.
Use 'unlikely to' to be polite.
Use 'certain to' for clarity.
Pronunciation
Likely
Stress the first syllable: /ˈlaɪkli/.
Bound to
The 'd' in bound often blends with the 't' in 'to'.
Falling intonation
It is LIKELY to RAIN.
Conveys certainty and finality.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
B.L.U. — Bound, Likely, Unlikely. Remember the order of certainty!
Visual Association
Imagine a thermometer. 'Bound to' is at the top (boiling), 'Likely' is in the middle (warm), and 'Unlikely' is at the bottom (freezing).
Rhyme
If you are sure, use bound to be, if it's probable, likely to see.
Story
Sarah was bound to win the race because she trained hard. Her coach said she was likely to break the record. However, the weather was bad, so it was unlikely to be a perfect day.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 3 sentences about your day tomorrow using each of the three forms.
Cultural Notes
Often uses 'bound to' to express a sense of inevitability in daily life.
Uses 'likely' frequently in professional and news contexts.
Prefers 'likely' over 'bound to' for objective hedging.
These structures evolved from the Old English 'bindan' (to tie), implying that an event is 'tied' to a certain outcome.
Conversation Starters
Do you think it's likely to rain today?
Is the new project bound to succeed?
Are we likely to see changes in the market?
Is it unlikely to be a good year for the company?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
It is ___ to rain tomorrow.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
It is bound to not happen.
Change 'It will probably rain' to 'likely'.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Will he come? B: He is ___ to come.
Use: 'market', 'likely', 'to', 'recover'.
Can you use 'bound to' in the negative?
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesIt is ___ to rain tomorrow.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
It is bound to not happen.
Change 'It will probably rain' to 'likely'.
Match 'bound to' with its meaning.
A: Will he come? B: He is ___ to come.
Use: 'market', 'likely', 'to', 'recover'.
Can you use 'bound to' in the negative?
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, these are for future predictions.
No, it is an adjective.
It sounds unnatural; 'unlikely' is the standard negative form.
Yes, but 'certain' is stronger.
It can be both, depending on the context.
'Likely' is an adjective; 'probably' is an adverb.
Yes: 'Is it likely to rain?'
Yes, 'expected to', 'due to'.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Es probable que...
English uses infinitive; Spanish uses subjunctive.
Il est probable que...
English uses infinitive; French uses 'que' clause.
Es ist wahrscheinlich, dass...
English uses infinitive; German uses 'dass' clause.
～する可能性が高い
English uses modal adjective; Japanese uses noun phrase.
من المحتمل أن...
Arabic uses a prepositional phrase; English uses an adjective.
很可能...
English uses a full sentence structure; Chinese uses adverbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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