usage of modal "will"

[lycen]

Modal "will" is used to express the greatest amount of certainty, followed by other modals like "would", "can", "could", "may" and "might".

E.g. I will be happy tomorrow (very certain) vs. I may be happy tomorrow (not certain)

However, we do normally use "I think I will be" and "I will probably be" in speech. "I think" and "probably" are used to suggest uncertainty and it seems contradictory to use with "will" (not sure in this context it's a modal or a future "will").

E.g. I will probably be happy tomorrow; I think I will be happy tomorrow

Any difference between "I will probably be happy tomorrow" and "I would be happy tomorrow" or "I may be happy tomorrow"?

Is there a difference between "I will probably be happy" and "I may probably be happy"?

Logically, why does such a combination even exist?

[albeit]

Originally Posted by lycen

Modal "will" is used to express the greatest amount of certainty, followed by other modals like "would", "can", "could", "may" and "might".

E.g. I will be happy tomorrow (very certain) vs. I may be happy tomorrow (not certain)

However, we do normally use "I think I will be" and "I will probably be" in speech. "I think" and "probably" are used to suggest uncertainty and it seems contradictory to use with "will" (not sure in this context it's a modal or a future "will").

'will' is a modal whether it's expressing a future sense or a emotive sense, Lycen.

All modals of 100% certainty can be modified to show a lesser level of certainty.

100% I will go.

90-99% I almost certainly will go.

51-89% I likely/probably will go.

26-50% I may go.

1-25% I might go.

0% I won't go.

[these numbers are, of course, not cast in stone. They merely provide a rough range that each covers in relation to the others.

The same can be done with "be going to + verb"/want to/have to/ need to/would/can/could/shall/... .


E.g. I will probably be happy tomorrow; I think I will be happy tomorrow

Any difference between 1. "I will probably be happy tomorrow" and 2. "I would be happy tomorrow" or 3. "I may be happy tomorrow"?

1. 51-89% chance I will be happy. 2. A conditional future; I would be happy if blah blah blah. 3. 26-50% chance I will be happy.


Is there a difference between "I will probably be happy" and "I may probably be happy"?

Logically, why does such a combination even exist?

"I may probably be happy" does not exist. Both 'may' and 'probably' define different areas of certainty.

[albeit]

albeit wrote: "I may probably be happy" does not exist. Both 'may' and 'probably' define different areas of certainty.

I was too hasty. 'may probably' does seem to exist. I haven't done any research past a google exact phrase search but this collocation may be [not 'may probably' be] a use similar to that of the southern US where some double modals are used, 'might could', for example.

'may likely' occurs too.

Results 1 - 10 of about 1,550,000 English pages for "may probably".

Results 1 - 10 of about 222,000 English pages for "may likely".

Is it a high may/low probably? I don't know.