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Vocabulary 2 IMPROBABILITY
We use a number of words and phrases to say how
unlikely it is that something will happen. Here-·are
some examples:

SECTION 4 verbs and verbal phrases:

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I wouldn't be~ nn her coming fir.st. I doubt if we'll

meet again. In situations like that, climbers don't stand
Possibility, probability and a chance of surviving. He hasn't got a cat in hell's
chance of winning. (= informal)
certainty 0
adjectives and adjectival phrases:
She's highly unlikely to have survived the earthquake.
Instead of using modals (see Section 2), we can 0
noun phrases:
express ideas of possibility, probability and certainty in The prospects of them surviving are slim. I h~ my
other ways. · · . doubts. There's my little I no chance I likelihood
that the exchange ratt will improve. There's a slight I
1 LIKELIHC>OD slim possibility of her coming baclc. Hopes are fading I
We can use a number of words and phrases to say Fears are growing as to their chances of survival. • · '
how likely it is that something will happen. Here are The odds are against them coming out of their comas.
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examples:
• • ••• •••• •• •• •• • ••• • • •• •• • • •• •• •• •• • •• •• •• •• •••• •• ••• • •• 0 ••••••••••••• ••• • ••••••••• • ••• •• ••• •••• • ••• • • •• •••• •• • • ••

2 Which of these sentences suggest that something

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verbs and verbal phrases: is unlikely to happen?
I bet you never write to her. I'd stake my life on his a It seems odds-on they'll be married before the
honesty. I don't doubt that he could do the job. end of the year.
I can't see the situation changing much in the b There's not much ch.ance of us catching a bus at
foreseeable future. I assume he knows what he's doing. this time of night.
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adjectives and adjectival phrases: c There's every likelihood of the Government doing a
He's highly unlikely to arrive before nine. U-rurn.
He's bound I certain I sure to arrive at some point. d Don't bet on him staying until the end of the week.
······· ... ·...................................................., .....................................................
• noun phrases:
The chances a-,re that interest rates will fall in the near
_future. Th~e 's every chance I likelihood of interest
rates coming down. There's a strong I a distinct IP@i-,ik=f·
possibility that interest rate.swill be reduced. It's
odds on I the odds are that .she'll succeed. 0 Tick ( the sentences in which the speakers
• adverbs and adverbial phrases: are optimistic that the project will go ahead.
Presumably, he'll be back. In all probability, today. 1 I have little doubt that the project !las great
Maybe even this morning - conceivably within the next potential.
half an hour. Doubtless he'll ring first. 2 I must confess to a few reservations concerning
the ultimate success of the project.
1 Which of:~h~.~~--~·~~~~~~;;·~~ggest that something
3 I have my doubts as to the wisdom of going ahead
is likely to happen? · · · with such a project. . . ... .
a She's hardly likely ro tell us what really happened, 4 There's every chance that the doubts being
is she? e>..-pressed about the project will be unfounded.
b There's an outside chance of a tornado hitting this 5 The odds are against such a project getting off the
region. ground.
c J presume we 'll be having our weekly meeting on 6 It's odds on that the prnject will fall flar on its
Friday. face.
I do believe that, contrary to public opinion, the
P.~~~: ..............................
d .. 1.can't. see. why .they. sho~~~~.-.~.. ..
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project has every chance of success.
8 There's no way this project is going to see the
light of day, I assure you.

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 POSSISILITY, PROSASILITY ANO CERTAINTY '1a
9 I wouldn't bee against chis project being the best @ Rewrite the four sentences in six different
thing co ·happen to us since the Euro. ways, each time using one of the words listed
1o· Barring a .mirade. this project is bound co hit the below it. Do not change the given word in any way.
dust almost immediately. More than one answer may be possible.
G Tick ( which two options in each item are Examplt:_in item 1: Thr odds arr against him passing.
possible to complete the sebtences. 1 I don't think he'll 2 I'm pretty confident
Example: I reckon there's a goqd pt>ssibility I chance pass. of her passing.
I likelihood I odds the match will be cancelled. (odd.s) odds
probably probability
1 You'll have the chance I possibility I occasion I
unliktly doubt
opportunity to look over the house tomorrow.
likelihood bound
2 The chances I odds I possibilities I probabilities are
she will reject him. doubt prospects
3 There's a distant I remote I far I distinct possibility doubts surprised
. .\,.
that I'll be able to help after all. 3 I doubt if we'll ever see 4 No one can be at all
4 I have my doubts i uncertainties i beliefs I reservations him again. sure of the outcome.
as to this applicant's suitability. likely far
5 I'd stau I offer I bet I invest my mortgage on the surprise uncertainty
fact .that she·s honest, chances 11.nnredictable
,r ..
6 Our new gardener's bound I convinced i hoped I chance !mainty
certain to make a good job_of cutting the hedge. prospects lap of the gods'
7 The new·student's bound I likely I sure I confidmt of well tell :
passing the initial test. · ·
8 She's in any I little I no Ifull doubt as to the . 0 Fill each of the numbered b l ~ £;a]=t~;&·
identity of the intruder. with one suitable word.
9 It doesn't look as whether I though I how I if µie
meeting's going to cake place. · This will now almost (1 ) ............ prove to have been the
1O There will almost inevitably I probably I certainly I driest April since the calamitous drought of 1924 and
inconceivably be som~ teething troubles initially. forecasters say the current spell is very (2) .•.......... to
continue well Into next week and quite (3) .........•..
8 Wri, full sentences from the prompt wordst beyond. A Met Office spokesman suggested there was a
adding-any.necessary words arid putting the verbs 1 slight (4) ...••.•.••.. of rain j~ after the weekend but
into a suitable form. (All the sentences contain the l admitted there is !Very (5) ....... :»·.:· that~ heading
word duince(s).)
across the Atlantic (6) ... ... ...... miss Britain completely. If
Example: I/ never/ chance/ go/ university/ I /your age. ., it does, (7) .......... ,. of further rain Within the nm
I ntVtr had tht chance to 90 to university whrn I was · 1 fortnight are thought to be slim. John Held of the
• ~ur age. l National Farmers' Union said that there.was a distinct
1 He/ no chance/ ever I persuade / her ,marry/ him~ 1 (8) ............ that mant farmers were heading for the
2 They.I stand/ much chance/ grade A/ as/ I/
become/ Prime Minister.
. bankruptcy courts and didn't (9) ....•.•.•••• a chance of
· staying in buslnm another yeai 'Here In the north, it's
3 There/ a chance/ that/ my company/ send I ·_ been Without (1 OJ .•.......... the wom time anyone can

4
United States/ for a year.
There / little chance / of/ management/ agree/
1
· remembet I haven't got the official figures but losses
1 (11)1 •••••••••••• run into tens of mDlions of pounds. And
employees' demands. · ] thats (12) ....... :•... to affect prices in the supermarkets
5 No one/ have / a chance I yet/ prcdia / outcome I · very soon.' A ban on h~pipes in all gardens now looks
this dispute / certainty. Virtually (13) ......•..... and the supply of general ·
6 Is /.there/ chance / of my borrow/ your bicycle / household water may very (14) .•••....•..• have to be
half an hour? rationed in some areas. The Government will, in all
7 The chances / that/ the match/ cancel. statement
I15) ............ t issue an official sometime in the
8 you/ a chance/ spe;µc / the personnel manager/ next twenty•four ho~. -~ ·
yesterday?
. -. ...,,..;;;.--~~-, ....~ ?." · ·. ·
I . .I, ." . ~ :_: .•.:.: i1 ·.

SECTION ·5 0
We also use a numb~r of common phrases w
suggest we have freedo'rri of ch~ice:
It's up to you what you wear. . You choose. -Oo as
Obligations you wish. It's your choice. Nobody's forcing you.
No one's telling you what to do.
1 LEGAL AND INSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATIONS ·· ············ ··············· ·········
I .Whic;h point above - 1, 2 or 3 - do these
We can express legal and institutional obligations sentences relate to?
with verbs. Note that we often use the passive: a She takes a dim view of disloyalty.
Visitors are not allowed I permitted to picnic_ on the b Do as you think fit.
grass.
c You needn't feel obliged to stay more than a few
Smoking on these premises is strictly forbidden. minutes.
Chewing gum has been banned from the canteen area. d He was sued for criminal negligence.
Jose has now been barred from five different ·clubs. e Park.ing outside this exit is prohibited at all times.
Guests are required to vacate their rooms lry midday. f It's your life.
Entry is restricted to authorised personnel.
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We can express obligation or permission with
adjectives:
Military service is still comJ1lllsory in many countries.
Practice
. ,... '-)

Is her evidence permissible in court?

Joining the u11io11 is not .obligatory. 0 Fill in each of the following sentences with .u,
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We also use many prepositional phrases ro express appropriate adjective from the list.
legal obligation: compulsory obligatory duty-bound permissible illicit
Is this within or outside the law? Some people think permitted illegal forbidden .
, they are above the law. You 're under no obligation
I Psychologists maintain we are all tempted by the
10 say anything if arrested. It's in your contract.
concept of ... .. . fruit.
2 I felt . .. .... . to stop and offer to help.
\ MORAL OBLIGATION
3 It's .. ...... .. for children to buy cigarettes.
; We can express obligation using nouns: 4 The driver was found to have above the

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It's your duty fO help them. . level of alcohol in his blood.
You have an obligation to support your family. f' Were ........ ... affairs more or less common
The onus is on you to carry out the research. · centuries ago th.an they are now, do you think?
o We can also express moral obligation using 6 There are three .. . .. ... questions in the exam.
adjectives: 7 Do you think 'I clidn't see him yet' would be
I felt duty-bound to go to her assistance. . .. .. . .. in a composition?
There has been tallc of an illicit liaison. 8 Is the use of hyphens in 'two-year-o!d child' ... >
Tlte agreement is mortilly binding.
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We can also use verbs:
fJ Tick the underlined words or phrases that
can compJete each of the following sentences.
You should always honour your promises.
I was supposed to let them know, but I didn't bother. Sometimes one will be possible; sometimes both.
You shouldn't try to wriggle out of your obligarions. I Th.is sort of behaviour is nor acceptable /
unacceptable.
3 PERSONAL OBLIGATION AND FREEDOM 2 It's always dangerous to rake on unc;iualified /
OF CHOICE · disc;iualified staff.
3 The goal was disallowed/ not allowed because of
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We use manv common phrases to express personal handball.
obligation: ,
4 Contributions ro the pension scheme are
It's your job to make sure they all get back safely. voluntaC)! / not obligatory.
Isn't it your turn to cook? It's up to you to tell him;
5 Smoking is disallow~/ not permitted in the
after all, he's your brother. It's all down to you to school.
decide if you're going. (= you must decide)
6 This song has been barred / banned by several
radio stations.
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 •
OBLIGATIONS
1~Jj

The evening activities are entirely op~ional /

7
compulsorx.
0 Write a prefix that makes the foIJowing words
negative. Then write the negative word. (See Unit
8 It is e:ctremely unwise/ forbidden to touch these
wires. 6, Section 6 for more information on prefLles.)
9 He was disqualified/ banned from driving for
Example: legal ii = illegal
two years. a lawful g rational m essential
10 If you did but know it, you're breaking ~ w / b permissible h consistent n acceptable
the rules. c reasonable manageable o loyal
d reliable j pardonable p natural
4) Rewrite each of the following sentences using e moral k necessary
the two prompts that follow them so that it is as f legitimate I ethical
similar in meaning as possible to the sentence
printed above it. ·0 The differences between the following
Exampl.t: You are responsible for ensuring that your _adjectives are often based on collocati9n as much
equipment is fu full working order. as meaning. Match each of the adjectives ori the
down/make left with a collocating noun on the right.
It's down to you to makt surt your tquipment is in full I illegitimate a killing
worlting ordtr. illegal
2 b child
1 · No one is going to force you. to do anything you 3 illicit . c advice
don't feel ca~blc of. · 4 unlawful d pleasures
· compelled/ up 5 legal e substances ·
2 If he's broken the law, he can expect to be
punished.· -- "j') · _ · ,{;:--- ....

something .: punishment ·" 1!_h . -- -.

cc-,~3*,
..:·--.y
3 You don't have to pay now if you would rather U) . , -· '- ,/4,,,} .J .

~
IW, ....._.__ ' ' ,r .
not. V . ~I
under/ prefer ·
4 'You musm"t pick. things up and you r~ally-
. -~ ( lj.~=====>:,
.~ '- '/ .
shouldn't couch arJything at all,' the curator told '""$ must find i · ·
. .
us. hat i& and i511't legitimate
ur.e of the elbow.
allowed!/ supposed
5 The choic~ of restaurant for tonight's meal is.
entirely yours.
C, Read the ten belo~ and·dedde·which •
answer (A, B, C or ,D) best fits each gap. · .
which/up .
6 Nobody's going to push you to decide here and Many salespeople in electrical stores will tell _you that
now which college to go to. you are under no (1) ............ to buy their extended
pressure/ choice warranty.for your new washing machine. It is entirely
7 One hundred per cent attendance on the course an (2) ............ extra, and nobody is going to (3) ............
is not something WC ask of you. down the law and (4) ............ you to buy anything you
expect/ all . don't want; Nevertheless.it is strongly implied that
8 There are several bars that Richard ·is not allowed you have a (5) ............ to yo~clf to .make sure that
into any more: you are covered for every possible eventuality. Y(?U are
number/ barred even made to feel slightly stupid if you don"t buy the
9 Toe entertaining of guests in private rooms is cover, and I think it is unreasonable, if not immoral.
to put customers under such (6) .............
strictly prohibited.
1 A compulsion B permission C option . D obligation
you/ allowed
10 Because you're the senior member of staff here,
z A additional B optional C essential D ethical
yo~-should make the presentation. · · 3 Aput Bsct Clay D write
4 A force B insist C permit . D let
being/up
5 A contract B job =· · C: rule Dem~
6 A force B prcsswc C choice Dlaw

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