Expressing Probability with May, Might, Will
Expressing Probability with May, Might, Will
Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson! Today, we’re going to explore how to talk about probability—in other words, how likely or unlikely something is to happen.
We often use modal verbs like may, might, and will to show probability. And to make things even clearer or stronger, we add adverbs and adjectives such as probably, possibly, likely, and unlikely. These little words help us show how certain (or uncertain) we feel.
Modal Verbs for Probability
May / Might
May and might express possibility.
These both suggest that something could happen, but we’re not certain.
- They may come to the party. (it’s possible they will.)
- It might rain later. (there’s a chance.)
May and might are generally interchangeable.
Might is often seen as slightly less certain than may, but the difference is small.
Will
Will is used to express certainty.
When we’re sure something is going to happen, we use will.
- She will be here at 7. (you’re confident!)
- That film will win awards. (you believe it strongly.)
Adverbs That Express Probability
Here are some useful adverbs that help describe how probable something is:
| Adverb | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Probably | very likely | She’ll probably call you later. |
| Possibly | not certain | They’ll possibly visit us next weekend. |
| Definitely | 100% sure | He’ll definitely be at the meeting. |
| Certainly | 100% sure | She certainly knows what she’s doing. |
| Maybe | uncertain | Maybe I’ll stay in tonight. |
| Perhaps | formal version of maybe | Perhaps it’ll snow tomorrow. |
| Clearly | Obviously true | He’s clearly not ready for that responsibility. |
Expressing Probability with May, Might, Will
Adjectives to Talk About Likelihood
Use “It is…” + adjective + that…” to express how likely something is.
- It is likely that she will get the job, as she has all the required qualifications.
- It is unlikely that we’ll finish the project today, unless everyone stays late.
| Adjective | Meaning | Example sentence |
| Likely | probable | It’s likely that he’ll come. |
| Unlikely | not probable | It’s unlikely that we’ll finish today. |
| Certain | sure | It’s certain that prices will go up. |
| Possible | It can happen | It’s possible that they missed the train. |
| Impossible | No chance | It’s impossible that she forgot your birthday. |
Word order tips
Some learners ask: Can I mix modals and adverbs?
Yes! Here’s how:
✅ She will probably arrive late.
✅ They might possibly cancel the match.
❌ Probably she will arrive late. → awkward word order
👉 Place the adverb after the modal verb.
Expressing Probability with May, Might, Will
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