Cool MateUnlikely vs Unlikely you've got an extended family
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Unlikely
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Unlikely you've got an extended family
Top 2,000 (common)
| Unlikely | Unlikely you've got an extended family | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ʌnˈlaɪkli/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ʌnˈlaɪkli//🇺🇸 //ʌnˈlaɪkli// |
| Meaning | Not likely to happen or to be true. | Not probable that you have many relatives. |
| Example | It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies. | It's unlikely you've got an extended family given your parents' backgrounds. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B1 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, extremely, fairly, very | unlikely situation, unlikely event, unlikely outcome, unlikely scenario, unlikely source |
| Antonyms | likely, probable, certain | - |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'unlikely' vs 'unlikelyhood', Incorrectly using it in an informal context where 'improbable' might fit better., Using 'unlikely' to describe a person's character instead of a situation. | Mixing 'unlikely' with 'unlike' for comparison., Using 'extended' incorrectly to mean 'longer' instead of more relatives., Confusing 'you've' with 'you have' in formal contexts. |
| Usage notes | Use 'unlikely' to describe situations or outcomes that are not expected. It's more appropriate in neutral contexts; avoid in very formal writing. | Use in informal conversations regarding family size. Generally used for predictions or assumptions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Unlikely vs Unlikely you've got an extended family
What's the difference between Unlikely and Unlikely you've got an extended family?
Unlikely: Not likely to happen or to be true. Unlikely you've got an extended family: Not probable that you have many relatives.
Can you show an example of each?
Unlikely: It is unlikely that it will rain today given the clear skies. Unlikely you've got an extended family: It's unlikely you've got an extended family given your parents' backgrounds.
Can I use Unlikely and Unlikely you've got an extended family interchangeably?
Not always. Unlikely and Unlikely you've got an extended family 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.