Chinese (Mandarin)

Spanish

English

Hindi

Arabic (Modern Standard)

Portuguese

Bengali

Russian

Japanese

Punjabi

German

Javanese

Malay

Telugu

Vietnamese

Korean

French

Marathi

Tamil

Urdu

Turkish

Italian

Chinese, Yue / Cantonese

Thai

Gujarati

Chinese, Jin

Chinese, Min Nan

Dari

Farsi

Polish

Pashto

Kannada

Chinese, Xiang

Malayalam

Sundanese

Hausa

Odia

Burmese

Chinese, Hakka

Ukrainian

Bihari, Bhojpuri

Tagalog

Yoruba

Bihari, Maithili

Uzbek

Sindhi

Amharic

Fula

Romanian

Oromo

Igbo

Azerbaijani

Chinese, Gan

Dutch

Kurdish, Central

Kurdish, Northern

Kurdish, Southern

Malagasy

Lahnda, Saraiki

Nepali

Sinhalese

Chittagonian

Zhuang

Khmer

Turkmen

Assamese

Madurese

Somali

Marwari

Bihari, Magahi

Haryanvi

Hungarian

Chhattisgarhi

Greek

Chewa

Dakhini

Akan, Twi

Akan, Fante

Kazakh

Chinese, Min Bei

Sylheti

Zulu

Czech

Kinyarwanda

Marwari, Dhundhari

Haitian Creole

Chinese, Min Dong

Ilocano

Quechua

Kirundi

Swedish

Hmong

Shona

Uyghur

Hiligaynon

Mossi

Xhosa

Belarusian

Balochi

### Expressions of probability

When discussing scientific predictions or future events, we often state how likely they are to happen. In French, **il est probable que** (it is probable that) expresses a high degree of certainty. Because the event is viewed as a near-fact, it is followed by the **indicative** mood, just like a normal statement.

{{item:887720}}

{{item:887726}}

### Expressions of improbability

Conversely, when an event is unlikely, certainty is lost. Expressions of doubt like **il est peu probable que** (it is unlikely that) change the reality of the statement. Because of this uncertainty, they require the **subjunctive** mood.

Notice how the verbs in the second part of these sentences shift into the subjunctive (like **soit** for *être* or **détruise** for *détruire*):

{{item:887723}}

{{item:887728}}

### Other levels of certainty

The rule of thumb is simple: if it's probable, use the indicative. If it's merely possible or completely improbable, the doubt triggers the subjunctive.

Expressions like **il est possible que** (it is possible that) and **il est improbable que** (it is improbable that) both take the subjunctive.

{{item:887736}}

{{item:887738}}

Probability and improbability (il est probable que)

adjective

adverb

conjunction

contraction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

phrase

prep

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Singular 'to be' and indefinite articles (je suis un...)

Singular definite articles (le, la, l')

Identifying vs. describing (c'est vs. il est)

Feminine adjective agreement (+e)

Plural pronouns and 'to be' (nous sommes, vous êtes)

Formal and informal you (tu vs. vous)

Plural nouns and indefinite articles (des... -s)

Plural definite articles (les)

Plural adjective agreement (+s)

Stressed pronouns (moi, toi, lui)

The verb "to have" singular (j'ai, tu as, il a)

The verb "to have" plural (nous avons, vous avez, ils ont)

There is / there are (il y a)

Basic verbal negation (ne... pas)

Negating "there is" (il n'y a pas de)

Regular -er verbs singular (je parle, tu parles, il parle)

Regular -er verbs plural (nous parlons, vous parlez, ils parlent)

The verb "to be called" (s'appeler)

Yes/no questions with intonation (Tu parles ?)

Yes/no questions with "Est-ce que" (Est-ce que tu parles ?)

Informal questions (qui, que, quoi)

Standard questions (est-ce que)

Singular possessives (mon, ton, son)

Plural possessives (notre, votre, leur)

Demonstrative adjectives (ce, cet, cette, ces)

Adjective placement

Numbers 1 to 20

Numbers 21 to 100

Age and physical states (avoir)

The verb to go (aller)

The preposition to/at (à, au, aux)

Question word for location (où)

Prepositions for cities and countries (à, en, au, aux)

The verb to come (venir)

The preposition from/of (de, du, des)

Question word for origin (d'où)

The verb to do/make (faire)

Days of the week (lundi, mardi)

Telling time (il est... heure)

Question words for time (quand, à quelle heure)

The verb to take or have (prendre)

The verb to drink (boire)

Partitive articles (du, de la, de l')

Zero quantity (pas de)

Expressions of quantity (un peu de, beaucoup de)

Asking how much or how many (combien, combien de)

Very vs. a lot (très, beaucoup)

The verb to want (vouloir)

Polite requests (je voudrais)

The verb to be able to (pouvoir)

Obligation (devoir)

General obligation (il faut)

Why and because (pourquoi, parce que)

Expressing purpose (pour)

Reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, nous, vous)

Daily routine verbs (se lever, s'habiller)

Adverbs of frequency (parfois, rarement)

Never (ne... jamais)

Regular -ir verbs (choisir, finir)

Regular -re verbs (attendre, répondre)

Irregular -ir verbs (sortir, partir, dormir)

Informal 'we' (on)

The imperative mood

Direct object pronouns (le, la, les, l')

The near future (aller + infinitive)

The recent past (venir de + infinitive)

The passé composé with avoir

Irregular past participles (eu, été, fait, pris, vu)

The passé composé with être

The negative passé composé (ne ... pas)

Saying goodbye

Please, sorry and thank you

Which / what (quel)

The indefinite adjective (tout, tous)

Irregular feminine adjectives (-euse, -ve)

Double consonant adjectives (-enne, -ette)

Feminine adjective endings (-ère, -trice)

Irregular plurals (-x)

Plurals ending in -al (-aux)

Present tense stem changes (e to è)

Accent stem changes (é to è)

Double consonant verbs (appeler, jeter)

Verbs ending in -yer (payer, envoyer)

Irregular communication verbs (dire, lire)

Irregular action verbs (écrire, mettre)

Question	Answer
probable	probable
the glacier	le glacier
to melt	fondre
It is probable that the glacier will melt.	Il est probable que le glacier fondra.
the trajectory	la trajectoire
the asteroid (m)	l'astéroïde
It is unlikely that the asteroid's trajectory is dangerous.	Il est peu probable que la trajectoire de l'astéroïde soit dangereuse.
the eruption (f)	l'éruption
the volcano	le volcan
It is probable that the volcano's eruption will happen tomorrow.	Il est probable que l'éruption du volcan aura lieu demain.
the earthquake	le séisme
It is unlikely that the earthquake will destroy the city.	Il est peu probable que le séisme détruise la ville.
the consequence	la conséquence
We doubt that this consequence will be serious.	Nous doutons que cette conséquence soit grave.
It is probable that the researcher is right.	Il est probable que le chercheur a raison.
It is unlikely that the glacier will melt before winter.	Il est peu probable que le glacier fonde avant l'hiver.
I believe that the asteroid has a bizarre trajectory.	Je crois que l'astéroïde a une trajectoire bizarre.
It is probable that they will hear the eruption.	Il est probable qu'ils entendront l'éruption.
It is unlikely that the volcano will cause a disaster.	Il est peu probable que le volcan provoque une catastrophe.
It is possible that this eruption will happen today.	Il est possible que cette éruption ait lieu aujourd'hui.
improbable	improbable
It is improbable that the earthquake will have serious consequences.	Il est improbable que le séisme ait des conséquences graves.
It is improbable that the asteroid will destroy the planet.	Il est improbable que l'astéroïde détruise la planète.
most likely	probablement
It will probably rain tonight.	Il va probablement pleuvoir ce soir.
She has probably already left.	Elle est probablement déjà partie.

Contributors