Fiche à imprimer : Exprimer la probabilité : be likely to, be bound to, be about to

Les modaux (may, might, must) ne sont pas les seuls moyens d'exprimer la probabilité. Ces tournures avec be sont très courantes à l'écrit comme à l'oral.

Tournure	Degré	Exemple
be bound to / be sure to + base	quasi certain (100 %)	It's bound to rain: look at the clouds!
be likely to + base	probable	Prices are likely to rise next year.
there's a good chance (that)	assez probable	There's a good chance we'll win.
may / might / could	possible	It might snow tonight.
be unlikely to + base	peu probable	He's unlikely to come: he's ill.
there's no way (that)	impossible (familier)	There's no way she'll agree!

Be about to : sur le point de

Hurry up, the train is about to leave! / I was about to call you.

Dépêche-toi, le train est sur le point de partir ! / J'allais justement t'appeler.

La construction impersonnelle

On peut aussi dire It is likely that prices will rise (il est probable que...). Le nom correspondant est likelihood (la probabilité) et l'adverbe probably / most likely.

Attention : likely est un adjectif. On dit He's likely to win, et non ~~He likely wins~~.

Mise en situation : avant la finale

Noah : Do you think we'll win the final tomorrow?

Tu crois qu'on va gagner la finale demain ?

Kate : We're likely to win if Adam plays. He's bound to score!

On va probablement gagner si Adam joue. Il va forcément marquer !

Noah : But he's injured. He's unlikely to play.

Mais il est blessé. Il y a peu de chances qu'il joue.

Kate : Oh no! Wait, my phone is about to die. I'll call you later!

Oh non ! Attends, mon téléphone est sur le point de s'éteindre. Je te rappelle !

À retenir

be bound to / be sure to = c'est sûr.
be likely to = probable ; be unlikely to = peu probable.
It is likely that... ; There's a good chance that...
be about to = être sur le point de.

Exercice 1 : Exprimer la probabilité : exercice 1 (QCM)

Look at those clouds! It's ___ rain.
1. about of
2. unlikely to
3. bound to
« Il est peu probable qu'il vienne. »
1. He likely doesn't come.
2. He's not likely coming.
3. He's unlikely to come.
« Les prix vont probablement augmenter. »
1. Prices likely to rise.
2. Prices are likely rising.
3. Prices are likely to rise.
« Le film est sur le point de commencer. »
1. The film is about to start.
2. The film is about starting.
3. The film is on the point to start.
« J'allais justement t'appeler. »
1. I was bound to call you.
2. I was about to call you.
3. I was likely calling you.
« Il est probable que nous gagnions. »
1. It is likely us to win.
2. It is likely that we will win.
3. It is likely we winning.
She's ___ to pass: she's the best student. (c'est sûr)
1. unlikely
2. sure
3. about
« Il y a de bonnes chances que... »
1. There's a good chance that...
2. It has good chances that...
3. There's a good luck that...
Choisissez la phrase correcte.
1. He likely wins.
2. He's likely win.
3. He's likely to win.
« la probabilité » (nom)
1. the likeliness of
2. the probably
3. the likelihood

Exercice 2 : Exprimer la probabilité : exercice 2 (à compléter)

It's bound .......................... rain this afternoon.
He's .......................... to be late again. (probable)
She's .......................... to agree. (peu probable)
Hurry! The bus is .......................... to leave. (sur le point de)
There's a good .......................... we'll win. (chance)
It is likely .......................... taxes will increase.
I was about to .......................... you! (appeler)
You're sure .......................... love this film.
There's no .......................... I'm eating that! (impossible)
They're likely to .......................... late. (arriver)

Exercice 3 : Exprimer la probabilité : mise en situation

Le ciel est noir : tu dis qu'il va forcément pleuvoir.
1. It's unlikely to rain.
2. It's bound to rain.
3. It's about to raining.
Tu dis que ton équipe va probablement gagner.
1. We likely win.
2. We're likely winning.
3. We're likely to win.
Ton ami est malade : il y a peu de chances qu'il vienne.
1. He's bound not come.
2. He's likely not coming of.
3. He's unlikely to come.
Tu presses ta sœur : le film va commencer.
1. Hurry up, the film is about starting!
2. Hurry up, the film is on point to start!
3. Hurry up, the film is about to start!
Ton ami t'appelle : tu allais justement l'appeler.
1. I was just about to call you!
2. I was about calling you!
3. I was just bound to call you!
Dans un essay : « Il est probable que la population augmente ».
1. It is likely that the population will increase.
2. It is likely to the population increases.
3. It is likely the population increase.
Tu es sûr que ton amie va adorer le cadeau.
1. She's sure loving it!
2. She's sure to love it!
3. She's surely to love it!
Tu refuses catégoriquement (familier).
1. It has no way I do that!
2. There's no way I'm doing that!
3. There's not way I do that!
Tu dis qu'il y a de bonnes chances que vous partiez en Irlande.
1. There's a good luck we go to Ireland.
2. It has good chances we'll go to Ireland.
3. There's a good chance we'll go to Ireland.
Tu dis qu'il pourrait neiger demain.
1. It mights snow tomorrow.
2. It's bound to snow tomorrow.
3. It might snow tomorrow.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. c) bound to · 2. c) He's unlikely to come. · 3. c) Prices are likely to rise. · 4. a) The film is about to start. · 5. b) I was about to call you. · 6. b) It is likely that we will win. · 7. b) sure · 8. a) There's a good chance that... · 9. c) He's likely to win. · 10. c) the likelihood

Exercice 2

1. to · 2. likely · 3. unlikely · 4. about · 5. chance · 6. that · 7. call · 8. to · 9. way · 10. arrive

Exercice 3

1. b) It's bound to rain. · 2. c) We're likely to win. · 3. c) He's unlikely to come. · 4. c) Hurry up, the film is about to start! · 5. a) I was just about to call you! · 6. a) It is likely that the population will increase. · 7. b) She's sure to love it! · 8. b) There's no way I'm doing that! · 9. c) There's a good chance we'll go to Ireland. · 10. c) It might snow tomorrow.