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Katerina Neimets Posted 5 years ago
Grammar

"probably" placement

Hello! Please help me with placing of "probably" in negative sentences.


My workbook says that 'probably' comes before helping verb. For example, Anna probably won't be in class tomorrow or Anna probably isn't going to be in class tomorrow.


So I did some exercise and the answers for it doesn't mach with this rule. The same workbook also suggest sentences like this:

They are probably going to invite/They are probably NOT going to invite


or


I'm probably going.

I'm probably NOT going.


So what's the rule? Should we place it before or after 'to be' and auxiliary words?

  

Top answer

Katerina Neimets "probably" in negative sentences. The use of contractions may change where 'probably' and 'not' are placed. He is probably not there now.

— CalifJim

  • Katerina Neimets "probably" in negative sentences.
  • The use of contractions may change where 'probably' and 'not' are placed.
  • He is probably not there now.
  • He's probably not there now.
  • He probably isn't there now.
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1 Answers
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Katerina Neimets"probably" in negative sentences.

The use of contractions may change where 'probably' and 'not' are placed.

He is probably not there now.
He's probably not there now.
He probably isn't there now.

They are probably not going to invite her.
They're probably not going to invite her.

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