[Grammar] Negative future time degrees of certainty

[Venus.jam]

Hi,

I was wondering if negative forms of modals in future time is also possible similar to those of present and past time. I mean in both present and past times in degrees of certainty we have affirmative and negative forms as well. But, what about future time?

For example, "she ought to/should become a good teacher"

Is the negative form also possible? As in "she ought not to/shouldn't become a good teacher".

or "she may/might/ could not do well on the exam tomorrow"

 

[teechar]

Hi,

I was wondering if negative forms of modals [STRIKE]in[/STRIKE] for the future [STRIKE]time is[/STRIKE] are also possible similar to those of the present and past time. I mean in both present and past times in degrees of certainty we have affirmative and negative forms as well. But, what about the future time?

For example, "she ought to/should become a good teacher."

Is the negative form also possible? As in "she ought not to/shouldn't become a good teacher".

Yes, it's possible, but that sentence is not a good example; it doesn't make much sense. Here's a better one:

She should not spend all her money on clothes.

or "she may/might/ could not do well on the exam tomorrow"

I don't understand what you mean by that.

 

[GoesStation]

"she may/might/ could not do well on the exam tomorrow"

We often use a [STRIKE]passive[/STRIKE] verb phrase constructed from the present simple followed by an infinitive to express that: She's not likely to do well on the exam tomorrow.

 

[GoesStation]

I see no passive there.

Thanks. I hesitated over that post, wondering if I was naming the construction correctly. What should I have written?

 

[YAMATO2201]

Thanks. I hesitated over that post, wondering if I was naming the construction correctly. What should I have written?

What about this?:

You could use the "be + likely + to-infinitive" construction to express that: She's not likely to do well on the exam tomorrow.

 

[teechar]

[STRIKE]What[/STRIKE] How about this?

You could use the "be + likely + to-infinitive" construction to say: [STRIKE]express that:[/STRIKE] She's not likely to do well on the exam tomorrow.

.

 

[GoesStation]

That referred to a statement in the previous post.

 

[Venus.jam]

hi

But, I think your sentence (She should not spend all her money on clothes.) seems more to be an advice rather than representing degree of certainty in the future tense. or is it possible to use it when a speaker is almost sure that she will not spend all her money on clothes?



Regarding the second part of my question, that is "she may/might/ could not do well on the exam tomorrow", I meant that here the speaker is just guessing as he/she is 50% sure that she will not do well on the exam.

 

[Venus.jam]

If we use "she's not likely to do well on the exam tomorrow", it means that we are just 50% sure of what will probably be the case. But, what about if we are 90% sure? In the affirmative form we can use as I stated before"she ought to/should become a good teacher." But, I was wondering if the negative forms of the same statements is correct as well. Because, in Betty Azar's English grammar book the negative forms of degrees of certainty in the future time have not been mentioned. However, both affirmative and negative forms of degrees of certainty have been dealt with when talking about present and past tenses.

 

[Matthew Wai]

If we use "she's not likely to do well on the exam tomorrow", it means that we are just 50% sure of what will probably be the case. But, what about if we are 90% sure?

It's impossible for her to do well on the exam tomorrow.

 

[Venus.jam]

I see. so is it equal to "she should not/ought not to do well on the exam tomorrow?

 

[Venus.jam]

so I think in this sense we can also use "she won't do well on the exam tomorrow". Is it correct?

 

[Venus.jam]

I'm a little bit confused now. I want to know if both negative and affirmative form of the following modal verbs are possible or not. Because, in Betty Azar's English grammar book the negative forms of degrees of certainty in the future time have not been mentioned. However, both affirmative and negative forms of degrees of certainty have been dealt with when talking about present and past tenses. I'd appreciate if you answer the following questions:

1. She will do well on the test. (can we say "she won't do well on the test?)
2. she ought to do well on the test. (can we say "she ought not to do well on the test?)
3. she should do well on the test. (can we say "she should not to do well on the test?)
4. she may/might/could do well on the test. (can we say "she may/might/could not do well on the test. )