Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Likely

534c

Spoken AmE allows the use of likely as an adverb (in the same way as probably,

possibly

, etc.) or as an adjective. In BrE, likely is usually only an adjective:

[discussing the US economy]

So I think we created the conditions which will 

likely allow us to have a much

longer recovery than you would have otherwise expected. 

(AmE; BrE preferred form: which are likely to allow us … which will probably

allow us …

)

The more things you have to remember, the more you’re 

likely to forget. 

(AmE; adjectival use, also typical of BrE)

THE PRESENT PERFECT

535

The frequency of use of the present perfect form is different in BrE and AmE, with

a tendency to use it less in AmE. AmE often allows the past simple in situations

which demand the present perfect in BrE:

[at a hotel; speakers have recently checked in]

A: Where’s the main pool at? 

B: It’s in the other side of the hotel. 

A: Oh. Is it bigger than this? 

B: We didn’t get that far yet [laughs].

(AmE; BrE would prefer: We haven’t got that far yet.)

[discussing how much money speaker B is allowed to take out of a cash

machine each day]

A: How much can you get out of here? 

B: Three hundred. 

A: So you’d have three hundred? You’ve got three hundred you can get out right

now? 

B: Yeah. 

A: But you already got some out. So you can do three hundred a day. You

already took out some today. How much did you take out? 

B: A hundred. I can only take another two hundred. 

(AmE; already typically accompanied by perfect aspect in similar situations in BrE)