The Complete Guide to “Is Likely to Be” Modal Verbs: Usage, Rules & Examples

Introduction to “Is Likely to Be”

The semi-modal construction “is likely to be” is a crucial expression in English used to indicate probability or strong possibility of a future event or state. This phrase suggests something has a high chance (about 70-90%) of occurring based on current evidence or reasonable expectations. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, grammatical rules, usage with Hindi translations, and practice exercises.

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Table of Contents

1. Core Meanings & Uses of “Is Likely to Be”
2. Grammatical Structures & Sentence Patterns
3. 10 Practical Examples with Hindi Translations
4. “Is Likely to Be” vs Similar Probability Expressions
5. Common Errors & How to Avoid Them
6. Practice Exercises (Test Yourself)
7. Conclusion & Key Takeaways

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1. Core Meanings & Uses of “Is Likely to Be”

“Is likely to be” expresses:

• High Probability (उच्च संभावना)
  Example: The exam is likely to be difficult. (परीक्षा के कठिन होने की संभावना है।)
• Expected Outcomes (अपेक्षित परिणाम)
  Example: She is likely to be promoted. (उसके पदोन्नत होने की संभावना है।)
• Predictable States (पूर्वानुमेय अवस्थाएँ)
  Example: The traffic is likely to be heavy. (ट्रैफ़िक के भीड़भाड़ वाला होने की संभावना है।)

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2. Grammatical Structures

Sentence Formation Rules

Sentence Type	Structure	Example	Hindi Translation
Affirmative	Subject + is/am/are likely to be + adjective/noun	The meeting is likely to be long.	बैठक के लंबी होने की संभावना है।
Negative	Subject + is/am/are not likely to be + adjective/noun	He isn’t likely to be ready.	उसके तैयार होने की संभावना नहीं है।
Interrogative	Is/Are/Am + subject + likely to be + adjective/noun?	Is this likely to be true?	क्या यह सच होने की संभावना है?

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3. 10 Practical Examples with Hindi Translations

S.No	English Example	Hindi Translation
1	The weather is likely to be pleasant tomorrow.	कल मौसम के सुहावना होने की संभावना है।
2	She is likely to be the next CEO.	वह अगली CEO होने की संभावना है।
3	The results are likely to be announced today.	परिणामों के आज घोषित होने की संभावना है।
4	Is the flight likely to be delayed?	क्या फ्लाइट के देरी से आने की संभावना है?
5	The new policy isn’t likely to be popular.	नई नीति के लोकप्रिय होने की संभावना नहीं है।
6	You’re likely to be tired after the journey.	यात्रा के बाद आपके थक जाने की संभावना है।
7	This restaurant is likely to be crowded.	इस रेस्तरां के भीड़भाड़ वाला होने की संभावना है।
8	Are the prices likely to be high?	क्या कीमतों के ऊँची होने की संभावना है?
9	The movie is likely to be a hit.	फिल्म के हिट होने की संभावना है।
10	They aren’t likely to be on time.	उनके समय पर पहुँचने की संभावना नहीं है।

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4. Key Differences: “Is Likely to Be” vs Similar Constructions

Construction	Probability Level	Usage Context	Example
Is likely to be	High (70-90%)	Probable outcomes	He’s likely to be late.
Is bound to be	Very high (95-100%)	Inevitable outcomes	He’s bound to be late.
May be	Medium (50%)	Possible outcomes	He may be late.

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5. Common Errors & How to Avoid Them

❌ Incorrect: She is likely be tired.
✅ Correct: She is likely to be tired.

❌ Incorrect: Is likely the test to be hard?
✅ Correct: Is the test likely to be hard?

❌ Incorrect: They are likely being late.
✅ Correct: They are likely to be late.

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6. Practice Exercises

Section 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. The new product __________ successful.
2. __________ the meeting __________ postponed?
3. You __________ surprised by the news.
4. The journey __________ comfortable.
5. __________ the results __________ accurate?

Section 2: Hindi to English Translation

6. कल बारिश होने की संभावना है।
7. क्या उनका विवाद होने की संभावना है?
8. तुम्हारा इससे खुश होने की संभावना है।
9. यह फैसला अच्छा होने की संभावना नहीं है।
10. परीक्षा परिणाम शानदार होने की संभावना है।

Section 3: Error Correction

11. She is likely be disappointed.
12. Is likely the concert to be canceled?
13. They are likely being successful.
14. This isn’t likely be easy.
15. Are we likely to being late?

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7. Conclusion

“Is likely to be” is essential for discussing probable outcomes in English. Remember:

• Always use “to be” after “likely”
• Indicates high probability based on evidence
• More certain than “may be” but less than “will be”

For making informed predictions or discussing expected outcomes, this construction is invaluable!