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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Probably + present continuous
Probably + present continuous
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Marcsi85
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Probably + present continuous
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Hello everyone!
I came across this sentence in a language exam test: I �m probably learning history next year.
How can I use PROBABLY with present continuous? Is it correct? As fas as I know if we want to express something that is not sure we have to use WILL or MIGHT for future. What do you think?
Thanks for your reply!
Mary |
15 May 2010
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yanogator
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Hi, Mary,
It sounds a little informal, but we definitely use it. Of course, we use the present continuous with a future meaning (I �m going to a movie later today), so if it isn �t definite, but probable, we use "probably" with it.
As you said, the more usual way to say it is "I �ll probably study history next year". Sometimes that seems too formal for casual speech, so a student would say "I �m probably taking history next year".
We �re probably going to the beach later today.
I �m probably having eggs for breakfast.
She �s probably doing her homework after dinner.
There �s definitely an informal sound to these sentences, but they sound natural.
I hope this helps,
Bruce |
15 May 2010
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Babs1966
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I agree with Bruce explanation ;) and like you I would use Will or might and as might indicates something being probable ==> PROBABLY fits in your sentence but BE is missing.
I would write : I �ll probably BE learning history next year.
I hope I didn �t bring mor confusion,
Babs |
15 May 2010
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redcamarocruiser
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To me they sound normal and not especially informal.
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15 May 2010
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[email protected]
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Hello Mary,
There �s nothing wrong with the sentence �I �m probably learning history next year. � You are using the present continuous (...ing) together with a time marker (next year) for future use. The word �probably � is not giving this sentence its future meaning. There are many other variants too, such as �certainly �, �definitely �, �possibly � etc, and these words simply state the degree of certainty. |
15 May 2010
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