Comments on: Grammar Guru: Predictions http://annehodgson.de/2009/11/27/grammar-guru-predictions/ Learning English Online with Anne Hodgson Fri, 30 Jul 2010 10:59:01 +0200 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Anne http://annehodgson.de/2009/11/27/grammar-guru-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-2925 Anne Thu, 03 Dec 2009 08:04:55 +0000 http://annehodgson.de/?p=9968#comment-2925 Which prediction is correct and most probable? <span style="text-decoration: bold"> * <strong>It's likely to freeze next week.</strong></span> (50%, 10 Votes) correct + most probable! * It might freeze next week. (40%, 8 Votes) Good! Always be ready for what might happen. <span style="text-decoration: line-through">* It's probable to freeze next week.</span> (10%, 2 Votes) * It could freeze next week. (0%, 0 Votes) Good! It could, but will it? Which prediction is correct and most probable?

* It’s likely to freeze next week. (50%, 10 Votes) correct + most probable!
* It might freeze next week. (40%, 8 Votes) Good! Always be ready for what might happen.
* It’s probable to freeze next week. (10%, 2 Votes)
* It could freeze next week. (0%, 0 Votes) Good! It could, but will it?

]]> By: Anne http://annehodgson.de/2009/11/27/grammar-guru-predictions/comment-page-1/#comment-2871 Anne Sat, 28 Nov 2009 08:22:25 +0000 http://annehodgson.de/?p=9968#comment-2871 The last variation is incorrect English. But what about the other three? Only one expresses probability, and two express possibility. Do you know which? It’s likely to freeze next week. (I think it will freeze, it usually does.) It could freeze next week. (Perhaps it will freeze, but I'm not sure.) It might freeze next week. (Perhaps it will freeze, but I'm not sure.) On the other hand, you're more likely to hear "It might freeze next week" than "It's likely to freeze". We use "might" more often! By the way, recently there was a very interesting discussion on "might" in one of my favorite grammar blogs: http://motivatedgrammar.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/when-may-might-be-right "Might" can express hope that something will happen, e.g. "We might get lucky and have a white Christmas!" But is that really probable? The last variation is incorrect English. But what about the other three? Only one expresses probability, and two express possibility. Do you know which?

It’s likely to freeze next week. (I think it will freeze, it usually does.)
It could freeze next week. (Perhaps it will freeze, but I’m not sure.)
It might freeze next week. (Perhaps it will freeze, but I’m not sure.)

On the other hand, you’re more likely to hear “It might freeze next week” than “It’s likely to freeze”. We use “might” more often!

By the way, recently there was a very interesting discussion on “might” in one of my favorite grammar blogs:
http://motivatedgrammar.wordpress.com/2009/07/14/when-may-might-be-right
“Might” can express hope that something will happen, e.g. “We might get lucky and have a white Christmas!” But is that really probable?

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