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B1 Grammar • 12 Minutes

Expressing Likelihood: Likely, Unlikely, Sure & Certain

Learn how to talk about possibilities and predictions with clear, simple sentence patterns.

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How to Use This Lesson

👨‍🏫 For the Teacher

Guide students through the 4 simple patterns in 12 minutes total. Use the automated practice items below to verify understanding immediately without manual grading.

🎓 For the Learner

First, read the 4 rules and examples in the table below. Next, complete the 12 quick practice questions to test what you have learned!

📖 Grammar Rules Guide

Theme: Meteors & Stars

be likely to / be unlikely to + action

Use be likely to when something will probably happen, and be unlikely to when it probably will not. Always use the simple base form of the action after "to".

EXAMPLE 1

The sky is likely to clear after midnight.

EXAMPLE 2

A bright meteor is unlikely to fall near our town.

be sure to / be certain to (Stronger result)

These phrases are stronger because the speaker feels almost no doubt about what will happen. Use them to describe an expected result, not for giving commands or wishes.

EXAMPLE 1

A dark field is certain to give you a better view of the stars.

EXAMPLE 2

If you gaze long enough, you are sure to see a quick flash.

it is likely / unlikely / certain that + clause

When starting with "It is...", follow with that and a full sentence with will. Do not mix this pattern with "to".

EXAMPLE 1

It is unlikely that we will see a meteor in the city lights.

EXAMPLE 2

It is certain that the small meteor will burn up before it lands.

Adding very, quite or fairly

Put words like very, quite, or fairly right before "likely" to show how strong the chance is. Note that not likely to means the same as "unlikely to".

EXAMPLE 1

The moon is quite likely to hide the faint stars tonight.

EXAMPLE 2

A large meteorite is not likely to hit our house.

A stunning night sky full of stars with a glowing streak of a meteor crossing near dawn, vector line art style, indigo a

✏️ Practice Exercises (12 Questions)

Work through each task. Answer keys are checked automatically.

Part 1: Choose the Correct Sentence

Question 1 (chance)

Which sentence uses the correct pattern?

____ a. The meteor shower is likely to start before dawn. ____ b. The meteor shower is likely to starts before dawn. ____ c. The meteor shower is likely to starting before dawn.

Question 2 (clause)

Which sentence correctly connects the clause?

____ a. It is likely that to see a bright streak across the sky. ____ b. It is likely that seeing a bright streak across the sky. ____ c. It is likely that we will see a bright streak across the sky.

Question 3 (result)

Which sentence expresses a clear result correctly?

____ a. The meteorite fragment is sure to crashing in the desert. ____ b. The meteorite fragment is sure to crash in the desert. ____ c. The meteorite fragment is sure to crashes in the desert.

Part 2: Rewrite the Sentence

Question 4 (pattern)

Rewrite using be likely to:

"It is likely that the bright star will twinkle."

____ (Type the full rewritten sentence...)

Question 5 (future)

Rewrite starting with It is unlikely that:

"A heavy space boulder is unlikely to reach the ocean."

____ (Type the full rewritten sentence...)

Question 6 (certain)

Rewrite starting with You are...:

"It is certain that you will see a beautiful sky tonight."

____ (Type the full rewritten sentence...)

Part 3: Fill in the Gaps

Question 7 (degree)

The sky is clear tonight, so that small star is very ____ in the dark.

Question 8 (connect)

It is unlikely ____ the faint fragment will reach Earth.

Question 9 (certainty)

A large fireball is ____ make a loud sound.

Part 4: Correct the Error in a Message

Question 10 (modifier)

"Hey! The sky is clear, so a meteor is much likely to appear."

Type the correct phrase to replace the underlined part:

____ (Type correction here...)

Question 11 (missing)

"We are gazing at the sky now. You are sure see a streak soon!"

Type the correct phrase to replace the underlined part:

____ (Type correction here...)

Question 12 (structure)

"It is likely that to be a great night for stargazing."

Type the correct phrase to replace the underlined part:

____ (Type correction here...)

Grammar: Expressing Likelihood

Expressing Likelihood: Likely, Unlikely, Sure & Certain

How to Use This Lesson

📖 Grammar Rules Guide

be likely to / be unlikely to + action

be sure to / be certain to (Stronger result)

it is likely / unlikely / certain that + clause

Adding very, quite or fairly

✏️ Practice Exercises (12 Questions)

Part 1: Choose the Correct Sentence

Part 2: Rewrite the Sentence

Part 3: Fill in the Gaps

Part 4: Correct the Error in a Message

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