Probable and other verbals

Question

Hi all,I want to check the correct use of the underlned verbals in the following sentences:(probable+infinitive) From "It's probable that the disease is epidemic", can I say "The disease is probable to be epidemic"?The cat is probable to be out of the bag (does it convey the idiomatic meaning?)It's probable to be rainy today.(bound + that) It's bound that Mary applies for the job.(there+seem) There seems to be a hoopoe in the garden.(certain+infinitive) It's certain to snow today                           The s**t is certain to hit the fan. Are these uses grammatical?You may understand that I am doing some syntactic stuff here I highly appreciate your help. Thanks in advance.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Mythical LadyI don't know how to tell you this, but in my opinion, all but the last two sentences are wrong.

I want to check the correct use of the underlned verbals in the following sentences:
(probable+infinitive) From "It's probable that the disease is epidemic", can I say "The disease is probable to be epidemic"? No.

The cat is probable to be out of the bag (does it convey the idiomatic meaning?)

It's probable to be rainy today.

Sorry, I've never heard this usage. I'm used to "X is probable," and "It is probable that X will etc."
I'm quite used to ("Likely" + infinitive). You may substitute "likely" for "probable" in all of your above examples.

(bound + that) It's bound that Mary applies for the job. "It's imperative that Mary apply for the job." "It's predetermined that Mary apply for the job."

Bad luck again. To me, ("bound" + "that") shows the determination of a person. "Mary is bound that her son is going to graduate highschool."

"It's bound" takes the infinitive, in my experience. "If you keep raising the pressure on that tire, it's bound to explode."

(there+seem) There seems to be a hoopoe in the garden. Correct!

(certain+infinitive) It's certain to snow today
The *** is certain to hit the fan. Correct!

"Probable" is used in medical diagnosis in a strange way, but not with the infinitive.

"In my opinion, she is probable for Hepatitis A." It sounds like an adjective, but I wouldn't swear to it. It may be a new usage in certain technical disciplines. Perhaps your very first one is correct, as a medical "diagnosis." (Could we say, "epidemiological"?)

BTW, how does "probable" get to be a verbal?? It seems like all your underlined words (except the finite verb seems) are adjectives, and not ones which are derived from verbs.

Mythical Lady · Answer

What a relief!

You know Avangi I based my analysis on your answer. Those made-up sentences were just to check my understanding.

For "probable", we come to define verbals as adjective in nature behaving like verb or let's say occupying verbal positions according to "Syntactic Argumentation and the Structure of English" by Perlmutter and Soames. It is somehow an outdated book. Yet we come to study it as a basis in syntax particularly for those lacking a sound background in syntax. To tell the truth I didn't like

Thank you very much

Mythical Lady · Answer

So for probable, does it sound correct to say "Sami is probable to pass the exam" from "it's probable that Sami will pass the exam?" I know likely fits perfectly here, but i question the usage of probable in particular. Based on this, much can be said in my syntactic anylasis.

Mythical Lady · Answer

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can anyone answer my final question plz asap???

Thanks

My regards,

CalifJim · Answer

... is probable to ... WRONG
... is probable that ... FINE
... is bound to ... FINE
... is bound that ... WRONG
There seems to be ... FINE
There seems that ... WRONG
It seems to be ... FINE
It seems that ... FINE

... is certain to ... FINE
... is certain that ... FINE

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

Mythical Ladydoes it sound correct to say "Sami is probable to pass the exam" from "it's probable that Sami will pass the exam?"

No. It's not correct, and it doesn't sound correct.

CJ

Probable and other verbals

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