Cool MateLikely vs Maybe you had a bad teacher vs Perhaps vs Probably
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Likely
Maybe you had a bad teacher
Perhaps
Probably
| Likely | Maybe you had a bad teacher | Perhaps | Probably | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈlaɪkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈmeɪ.bi//🇺🇸 //ˈmeɪ.bi// | 🇬🇧 /["/pəˈhæps//præps/"]/🇺🇸 /["/pərˈhæps/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈprɒbəbli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈprɑːbəbli/"]/ |
| Meaning | It probably will happen. | It is possible that you had a teacher who wasn't good. | maybe; it might be true | most likely; it seems that something will happen |
| Example | It is likely that it will rain tomorrow. | Maybe you had a bad teacher that made learning difficult. | ‘Are you going to come?’ ‘Perhaps. I'll see how I feel.’ | You're **probably right**. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | - | A2 | A1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adverb | adverb | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very | maybe later, maybe next time, maybe not | perhaps we should, perhaps it is, perhaps he thought | probably going to, probably not, probably true |
| Antonyms | unlikely, improbable | - | definitely, certainly | unlikely, improbable |
| Common mistakes | 'Likely' vs 'likelihood': Confused the adjective with the noun., 'Likely' placement: Wrongly placed before the verb instead of before 'to'., 'Unlikely' usage: Misusing 'unlikely' in positive contexts. | Confused with 'may be', which is a verb phrase., Overusing 'maybe' in situations where a definitive answer is expected., Using 'maybe' too formally, which can sound awkward. | 'Perhaps' can't be used as a noun., Confused with 'perchance', which is more archaic., Using 'perhaps' in very direct or commanding statements. | Using 'probably' with negative verbs incorrectly, 'Probably' used too frequently can sound unsure, Confusing 'probably' with 'probably not' |
| Usage notes | Use 'likely' to express probability in neutral contexts. Avoid in very formal writing; use 'probable' instead. For informal contexts, 'likely' is suitable. | Use 'maybe' to express uncertainty. It is commonly used in informal conversations but can also be suitable in casual writing. Avoid using 'maybe' in formal contexts. | Use 'perhaps' in formal writing or speech. It's less common in casual conversations, where 'maybe' is preferred. Avoid using it when being certain. | Use 'probably' when you want to indicate that something is likely true or will happen. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English, but avoid in very formal contexts where more certain language is expected. |
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Frequently asked questions: Likely vs Maybe you had a bad teacher vs Perhaps vs Probably
What's the difference between Likely, Maybe you had a bad teacher, Perhaps, and Probably?
Likely: It probably will happen. Maybe you had a bad teacher: It is possible that you had a teacher who wasn't good. Perhaps: maybe; it might be true Probably: most likely; it seems that something will happen
Can you show an example of each?
Likely: It is likely that it will rain tomorrow. Maybe you had a bad teacher: Maybe you had a bad teacher that made learning difficult. Perhaps: ‘Are you going to come?’ ‘Perhaps. I'll see how I feel.’ Probably: You're **probably right**.
Can I use Likely, Maybe you had a bad teacher, Perhaps, and Probably interchangeably?
Not always. Likely, Maybe you had a bad teacher, Perhaps, and Probably are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.