1. 兩者均表示“(很)可能的”,詞義很相近,不少英語詞典對這兩個詞釋義時,常將它們互作解釋。如:
It is likely [probable] that he is out. 他很可能外出了。
2. 從用法上看:likely 可以用人作主語,而 probable 則不能用人作主語;另外,likely 后可以接不定式,而 probable 后則不能接不定式。如:
正:He is likely to win. 他很可能會贏。
誤:He is probable to win.
正:Do you think it's likely to rain? 你認為可能會下雨嗎?
誤:Do you think it's probable to rain?
另外比較:
He's likely to come.=It is likely [probable] that he’ll come. 他很可能會來。(但不說:He’s probable to come.)
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