The expression "most likely" causes difficulties for many with the placement of punctuation marks, as it may or may not require commas, depending on the role in the sentence (context). However, learning to determine whether isolation is necessary in a given situation is a simple matter.
Introductory design
For proper punctuation, you need to determine if the expression "most likely" is an introductory phrase.
What does it mean?
An introductory word (or a stable combination of words) is a construct that is not a member of a sentence and is not syntactically related to any of its members. It is impossible to ask a question from her subject, neither from the predicate, nor from the secondary members; from her it is also impossible to ask a question to other members.
Introductory words can, for example, convey the emotional color of a sentence (“fortunately”, “unfortunately”), express confidence (“of course”, “of course”) or uncertainty (“probably”, “maybe”) of the author or indicate a link to someone’s opinion (“in my opinion”, “they say”).
“Most likely” is highlighted with commas if this is an introductory turn with a value of uncertainty, since the introductory word or expression always requires isolation.
How to determine this?
- The introductory turnover can be rearranged to any part of the sentence without losing meaning. If "most likely" is at the beginning of a sentence, then it can be used at the end or in the middle, while the essence of the sentence remains unchanged.
- The introductory revolution can be replaced by any other synonymous introductory design. The introductory expression “most likely” should be tried to replace with the introductory word “probably” or the construction “maybe”. If “most likely” is an introductory word, then the degree of confidence will change, but the meaning of the statement will not disappear.
- Introductory turnover can be excluded. The sentence should remain grammatically correct.
If the conditions are met, the "most likely" comma is highlighted.
Phrases from adjective and pronoun
The word "more likely" can be comparatively adjective and be part of the predicate. Then “total” - this dependent word also in the predicate, is a definitive pronoun.
How to determine this?
It is enough to check the same three conditions.
If the conditions are not met, that is, when “dropped”, moved to another part of the sentence or replaced with introductory constructions “maybe”, “probably” the sentence loses its meaning or becomes grammatically incorrect, “most likely” it does not stand out with commas.
Examples
Consider two similar sentences:
This behavior was most likely predicted in advance.
This behavior was most likely.
In the first case, we move it to understand whether commas are needed at the beginning of the sentence "most likely":
Most likely, this behavior was predicted in advance.
Replace the phrase with "probably":
This behavior was probably predicted in advance.
Now let's try to discard the phrase in question:
This behavior was predicted in advance.
In all three cases, the sentence retained meaning and remained grammatically correct. We can conclude that in this sentence "most likely" is an introductory structure. Select commas on both sides. Of course, except in cases at the very beginning or the end of a sentence, when a comma is enough on one side.
Let's move on to the second sentence.
Move "most likely" to the beginning of the sentence.
Most likely this behavior was.
As you can see, the phrase turned out to be extremely inconvenient for perception. But to make sure, we check the other two signs.
Replace with "probably":
This behavior was probably.
The meaning is completely lost.
If you drop the "most likely", it will remain:
This behavior was.
In this case, the meaning is also completely lost.
Conclusion: in the considered sentence, “most likely” is not an introductory word. Therefore, we do not mark “most likely” commas.