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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2011 10:04 pm Post subject: grammar question on like / likely |
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Can someone help with a question on the following:
If a group pulls with all their might in a game of tug-of-war, it is [like / likely] that the total force exerted is less than the sum total of their individual strengths had each person been pulling the rope alone.
I would say that only "likely" is possible here. If that is correct, how can I
explain that "like" is not grammatically correct?
Thanks if you can help with this one. |
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lichtarbeiter
Joined: 15 Nov 2006
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:54 am Post subject: Re: grammar question on like / likely |
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| raewon wrote: |
| If that is correct, how can I explain that "like" is not grammatically correct? |
No matter how you look at it, the reason "like" doesn't work is purely the result of lexical semantics. The most obvious reason it doesn't work is because its meaning doesn't fit the context, which has nothing to do with grammar. The two words are both adjectives that share the same root but have very different meanings. As an analogy, think of the sentence: "The X is playing video games." All nouns would work grammatically, but only some nouns (e.g. "boy") would work semantically while others (e.g. "innocence") would not.
Of course, using "like" instead of "likely" would also be grammatically incorrect because of the presence of "that", but that again is the result of lexical semantics. The reason the adjective "like" can't take "that" as a complement is simply based on the inherent lexical property of the adjective "like"; there isn't any use in analyzing it any more than that, unless you're a historical linguist. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:31 am Post subject: |
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"it is [like / likely] that the total force"
It is like what? The word "like" is almost a copula. It is used to compare SIMILAR things.
The word "likely" is an adverb of frequency. It is used in a conditional. Future tense, adverb of frequency, and conditionals go well nicely together. Present tense, states of being, and adjectives fit well together. |
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The Cosmic Hum
Joined: 09 May 2003
Location: Sonic Space
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| Posted: Fri Mar 04, 2011 8:42 pm Post subject: Re: grammar question on like / likely |
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| raewon wrote: |
Can someone help with a question on the following:
If a group pulls with all their might in a game of tug-of-war, it is [like / likely] that the total force exerted is less than the sum total of their individual strengths had each person been pulling the rope alone.
I would say that only "likely" is possible here. If that is correct, how can I
explain that "like" is not grammatically correct?
Thanks if you can help with this one. |
Hello again reawon,
'Like' can be a verb, noun, adjective, preposition, adverb, conjunction...etc.
'Likely' can be an adjective or adverb.
The definitions change depending what part of speech is being used.
In the example sentence...an adjective is required...and the definition for 'like' as an adjective does not match with the structure/context of the sentence.
In that sentence...'likely' as an adjective does fit.
Hope this is helpful. |
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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Mar 05, 2011 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Thanks a lot. All of the replies were extremely helpful. I really appreciate your taking the time to write helpful comments and hope that some of my grammar questions are helpful to others on this board as well. |
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