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Preposition after adjective

Likely to or likely in?

Likely is normally followed by to + verb or a noun clause. Likely in is not a standard fixed pattern after the adjective.

Quick answer

Use likely to for expected actions or results

The common pattern is likely to + verb: likely to happen, likely to win, likely to change. Likely in can appear when in introduces a separate phrase of place, time, or situation, not as part of the adjective pattern.

She is likely to arrive early.
The team is likely to improve next season.
Rain is likely in the northern regions tonight.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
likely to + verb

Express an expected action or result

Use likely to before an infinitive verb.

Prices are likely to increase next month.
He is likely to forget the meeting.
2
it is likely that + clause

Introduce a full statement

Use a that-clause for more formal statements.

It is likely that sales will rise.
It is likely that she already knows.
3
likely in + place/time phrase

Use in as a separate adjunct

In can introduce location or time information after likely, but it is not selected by the adjective.

Snow is likely in the mountains tonight.
More changes are likely in the coming weeks.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
likely to
She is likely to succeed.
Standard pattern meaning probably able or expected to do something.
likely in
Heavy traffic is likely in the city centre.
In introduces a place phrase, not a fixed adjective-preposition combination.
likely that
It is likely that they will agree.
Formal clause pattern with likely.

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using likely in before a verb

Do not use in instead of to before an infinitive.

✕ She is likely in arrive late. ✓ She is likely to arrive late.

Omitting the infinitive marker

Likely is usually followed by to before a verb.

✕ They are likely win. ✓ They are likely to win.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. The company is ___ expand next year.
2. More delays are likely ___ winter.
3. ___ that the train will be late.

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Frequently asked questions

Is likely in grammatically correct?

It can be correct when in introduces place or time information, such as likely in winter.

Can likely be followed by a verb?

Yes. Use likely to plus the base form of the verb.

Is likely that formal?

It is common in formal and neutral English, especially in writing.

labour-in-for-with-on, to "large in" or "large of"? "late in" or "late for"? lawful for, to, in, unto or under? "lax in", "lax on" or "lax about"? lazy in, about, with, to or for? "leading to" or "leading of"? leery of, about or over? left in, for, over, with or to? leftover from, of, for, in or after? "legal in" or "legal for"? "legitimate for" or "legitimate in"?

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