to be bound to

[Teia]

Hi

I understand that "to be bound to" is a semi-auxiliary verb but I don`t know its meaning. Although I tried searching it in some dictionaries, I didn`t find its exact meaning. Could you, please, help me with that?

e.g. His holiday is over; he has no other choice so he is bound to come back this evening.

Thank you very much in advance.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Teia

Hi

I understand that "to be bound to" is a semi-auxiliary verb but I don`t know its meaning. Although I tried searching it in some dictionaries, I didn`t find its exact meaning. Could you, please, help me with that?

e.g. His holiday is over; he has no other choice so he is bound to come back this evening.

Thank you very much in advance.

Hi Teia.

It basically means, "is sure to"; very likely to to almost certainly will ..."

He is sure to come back this evening.

[Anglika]

"bound" in this phrase means certain and is the past participle of To bind, used as an adjective and usually followed by an infinitive.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by riverkid

Hi Teia.

It basically means, "is sure to"; very likely to"

He is sure to come back this evening.

Hi Riverkid

Thank you very much for answering my question so fast.

[Teia]

Originally Posted by Anglika

"bound" in this phrase means certain and is the past participle of To bind, used as an adjective and usually followed by an infinitive.

Hi Anglika

Thank you very much for clarifying that.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Teia

Hi Riverkid

Thank you very much for answering my question so fast.

You're welcome, Teia. You replied before I was able to edit.

I beeeelieve that this collocation occupies the same range of certainty as a 'very likely' to an 'almost certainly'.

Of course, 'almost certainly' occupies the same range as a 'must' but I think that this is a good example of a situation where a 'must' of certainty could not be used. 'must' is ['almost certainly' + deductive reasoning] that leaves the speaker only one rational choice.

For pure speculation without the "facts that provide the fodder for deductive reasoning, we'd choose 'almost certainly' or in the 'should' range, 'likely/probably' 'very likely'.