CERTAINTY, PROBABILITY and DOUBT

• If you are certain about something this means that you are 100% sure that what you are talking about will happen. For example: I am certain the sun will rise tomorrow.
• If something is probable, it is likely to happen, but is not certain. (You are 60-70% convinced something will happen). For example: According to the weather forecast, it will probably rain tomorrow.
• If you doubt something will happen you are unsure and think the action or event is unlikely to happen. For example: I doubt that tennis will become more popular than football.

We use adverbials of probability to say how certain we are of something. The most frequent adverbials of probability are: maybe – perhaps - certainly - definitely – possibly - clearly – obviously and probably

Maybe and perhaps usually come at the beginning of a clause.

• Perhaps the weather will be fine.
• Maybe it won’t rain.
• Perhaps my sister will phone me today.
• Maybe John will invite me to his party.

Other adverbs of possibility – certainly, definitely, possibly, clearly, obviously and probably usually come in front of the main verb…

• He is certainly coming to the party.
• Will they definitely be there?
• We will possibly come to Malta next year.
• He obviously likes that girl.
• She probably wishes she had bought the shoes during the sale.

…but after am, is, are, was and were:

• I am probably going on holiday in September.
• That statement is clearly
• They are definitely at home.
• She was obviously very surprised.
• They were definitely going to France this year.