Likely/unlikely - Willing/ unwilling

'TO BE LIKELY TO DO SOMETHING'

This expression is really mistreated by students... We must admit that in your eyes, it is 

full of traps! ''LIKELY.'.. hum, 'We can see 'like' in this word... is it 'loving'? or is it a way to  

compare, as we do in 'a man like you!' Hummmm ! 

Oh well... I do understand your hesitations better...  

- No! 'LIKELY' (To be likely to do') is not a verb, or an adverb, or a preposition... 

It is an ADJECTIVE! and it means 'fairly sure, probable, expected', 'believable'.

- Audrey has worked so regularly that she is likely to pass her exam with flying colours.

Likely may be:

- an attributive adjective: a likely result/ a likely spot 

- a predicative complement (after to be) : it's likely that... 

- it can be in the comparative form: the more likely it is...

- and in the superlative: the most likely person...

In the negative form: either  'it is not likely that ...' or it becomes 'it is unlikely that...'

- an unlikely story.../ She is unlikely to arrive.../ It's unlikely that she arrives on time...

LIKELY: gives the abstract noun: likelihood (a probability or chance of something)                                        

2) 'TO BE WILLING/ UNWILLING TO DO SOMETHING'

is the second expression that you hardly ever use... I don't know why... 

Yet, this one is even more transparent than the preceding one (but you sometimes use one for the other...)   

Let's note that: WILLING/ UNWILLING contains the root word: WILL (the power of choosing or deciding) 

Willing/ unwilling are both adjectives, used as attributes, or predicates, in the comparative and superlative forms.

It means 'cheerfully agreeing or enthusiastic' about doing something/ stubborn, obstinate, reluctant... 

- I'm willing to cook for the whole family tomorrow.

- Pete is unwilling to admit that he's responsible for the team's failure. 

WILLING: gives the abstract noun: WILLINGNESS : being happy to do something if it is needed. 

UNWILLINGNESS: the quality of not wanting to do something. 

That's it! Let's not mix them up, and let's make an effort to use them in context...  

Go for it! 

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1. 'I wrote down our address because Judy 's unwilling to's unlikely to's likely toI don't know forget it. The different numbers are almost alike!'



2. 'The teachers were pleased by their students' likelihoodunwillingnesswillingnessI don't know to learn the new notion.'



3. 'Don't worry! If you're not back by six, I'm unwilling toI'm willing toI'm not likely toI don't know start cooking dinner for us all.'



4. 'With such a low price, of course, I'm likely to beI'm unwilling to beI'm willing to beI don't know interested in buying your house.'



5. As they are neighbours, Tom and Jimmy are unwilling toare unlikely toare likely toI don't know come to our party in the same car!'



6. If I told you that your money would be used for a good cause, would you be unwilling towilling tolikelyhood toI don't know lend quite a big sum to your brother?



7. 'In all likelihoodlikelyhoodlikenessI don't know you didn't check the spelling in the dictionaries, and your text is full of mistakes.'



8. ' Is he likely toIs it likelihoodIs he unlikely toI don't know propose to Amy in front of the whole family, or not?'



9. On the western coast, people are with willingnessunwilling tomore likely toI don't know take precautions after last season's fires.



10.

unwilling tounlikelihoodwilling toI don't know