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Tenacious Learner Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Question

Hi teachers,

I have found this explanation on the Internet about the use of the simple future negative with will:

'The words probably, maybe and I think give more ambiguity to form simple future negative sentences with will, but they don’t change the meaning'.

My question is, 'How come the words probably, maybe and I think give more ambiguity, if the sentence is already in negative?' They can give more ambiguity in affirmative sentences, but in negative ones, I don't think so.

Am I right?

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

Thinking Spain The words probably, maybe and I think give more ambiguity to form simple future negative sentences with will, but they don’t change the meaning I don't even understand what they're getting at. How could the meaning be left unchanged by the addition of these words? Did they give any examples?

— CalifJim

  • Thinking Spain The words probably, maybe and I think give more ambiguity to form simple future negative sentences with will, but they don’t change the meaning I don't even understand what they're getting at.
  • How could the meaning be left unchanged by the addition of these words?
  • Did they give any examples?
  • Here's how I would interpret these: He won't be on time.
  • - Confident prediction.
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24 Answers
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Thinking SpainThe words probably, maybe and I think give more ambiguity to form simple future negative sentences with will, but they don’t change the meaning
I don't even understand what they're getting at. How could the meaning be left unchanged by the addition of these words? Did they give any examples?

Here's how I would interpret
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Hi Jim,

Thank you for your reply.

Examples:

I think I won't have my car back by Monday.

Harry won't probably win the election.

Maybe I will invite them for dinner.

You know what, I won't use these words with will. I guess it's too complicated for the students.

Maybe in the future I will.

Best regards.
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Thinking SpainMaybe I will invite them for dinner.
This one isn't negative, however.
Thinking SpainI guess it's too complicated for the students.
On the contrary, in my opinion it is the explanation that is complicated, not the usage.
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CalifJimMaybe I will invite them for dinner.
This one isn't negative, however.
That was my fault. The original sentence was in negative. Sorry.

CalifJimOn the contrary, in my opinion it is the explanation that is complicated, not the usage.
Very Clever, but you are absolutely right. I just
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Hi Jim,

One more to go.

The position for 'Maybe' and 'I think', is at the begining of a sentence for affirmative and negative ones, right?

The position for 'Probably' is always after the subject, or can also be after the auxiliary verb 'will'?

Thanks again.

TS
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Thinking SpainI just don't know how to explain the words probably, maybe and I think in a very easy way to them.
Have you tried probablemente, tal vez, and creo?
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Thinking SpainThe position for 'Maybe' and 'I think', is at the begining of a sentence for affirmative and negative ones, right?
The position for 'Probably' is always after the subject, or can also be after the auxiliary verb 'will'?
Here's the canonical position of probably:

He probably knows. No auxiliary verb.

He
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Hi Jim,

Wow! It's really a very detailed explanation. Another one of yours that goes to my folder, 'Best grammar'.Emotion: clap
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Thinking SpainIsn't one of the differences between the 'will' and the 'be going to' form this ones?
One of uses of the 'Will' form:
Predictions for the future based on speculations. There is no visual evidence or prior information.
One of uses of the 'Be going to' form:
Predictions for the future based on visual evidence or on previous information.
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Hi Jim,

Yo made my day. Thank you for enlightening me. Great explanation for the differences between the words 'before now, recently, already, and not yet'.
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