I have recently encountered both while reading articles, can anyone clarify which one is correct?
3 Answers
Both are correct. Become can be used as the primary verb or as an infinitive.
Examples of the use of become as a primary verb are
He becomes agitated when the music plays.
He will become agitated when the music plays.
He will likely become agitated when the music plays.
In the last two examples, become is the primary verb, and will is an auxilliary verb forming the future tense.
As an infinitive
He starts to become agitated as the music plays.
He is going to become agitated when the music plays.
He is likely to become agitated when the music plays.
In these cases, become is not the primary verb. Rather, it is used as an object of the primary verbs, starts, is going and is.
As noted in the comment by @Hellion below, both constructions have the same meaning.
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2And both have the same meaning, it's worth mentioning. The other answers so far attempt to draw a distinction between the two that I don't believe exists.– HellionCommented Jan 8, 2015 at 16:18
They are both correct.
When you are talking in a future context about something that you are very sure of you will use likely become:
He will likely become a great actor.
When you are talking or discussing the possibility of something happening you will use likely to become
He is likely to become a great actor.
Definitely both are correct, Use of difference is :
likely to become shows expectations/predictions.
example : Children who get sexually abuses are likely to become frustrated.
likely become is surety.
example : Broken marriages likely become hell.
