Nothing is impossible. In our daily life, we often don’t know what is going to happen. Anything could happen. There are a lot of uncertainties. So it is necessary for us to learn some expressions about possibility.

Now we are going to learn to express possibilities.

Usually we use some key words to express possibilities.

Firstly, we use modal words frequently. Namely, can, could, may, might and must.

Generally, we use must/can/could/may/might in affirmative sentences, for example:

He must/could/may/might know the answer to this question.

　　他一定/可能/也许知道这个问题的答案

In negative sentences, we use can’t/couldn’t/may not/might not, for instance:

It can’t/couldn’t be the headmaster. He has gone to America.

　　这不可能是校长，他去美国了。

He may not/might not know the scientist.

他也许不认识那位科学家。

 

Secondly, there are three key words we usually use to express possibilities. They are likely, possible and probable.

1. likely.

Likely is often used to indicate that something seems to happen.

We usually use the sentence pattern “sb/sth is likely to do” or “It is likely that...”, for example:

They are likely to become angry with him. 他们可能会对他发怒。

It is likely that he will come. 他有可能会来。

Likely can also be used as an adverb, for instance:

They’ll very likely ask for an increase in the budget. 他们很可能要求增加预算。

 

2. possible

Possible is used when something is not certain. For example:

I will do everything possible to help you. 我将尽一切可能帮助你。

We usually use the sentence pattern “It is possible for sb. to do something” or “It is possible that…” for instance：

It is possible for one man to finish this work. 一个人也有可能完成这项工作。

It’s possible that he will accept the terms. 他有可能会接受条款。

Pay attention, we can’t say “make sb. Possible”. But we can say “make it possible for sb. to do sth”.

Besides, possibly is derived from possible used as an adverb. For example:

He may possibly decide not to come, in which case there's no problem.

　　他可能会决定不来，这样就没问题了。

3. probable

Probable is used to mean that something is very likely.

The home team, far ahead, is the probable winner. 主队份遥遥领先，很可能成为胜利者。

We often use the sentence pattern “It is probable that…”. For example：

It is probable that the winner will get a prize.  胜利者很可能会得到奖品。

Probably, as an adverb, is derived from probable. For example:

I'll probably be home by midnight. 我很可能半夜到家。

 

Thirdly, some adverbs are used quite often to express possibilities. For example, maybe, perhaps and presumably.

Maybe is used to show that something is possible or that something might be true. See examples:

Maybe they'll come tomorrow. 或许他们明天会来。

Maybe you were right after all. 或许还是你对。

Perhaps is used to show that something is possible or that you are not certain about something.

He hasn't written to me recently - perhaps he's lost my address.

　　他最近没给我写信——也许他把我的地址弄丢了。

Presumably is used to say what you think is the likely situation.

Presumably the bad weather has delayed the flight.

　　大概恶劣的天气使飞机误点了。

The stars in each given cluster presumably were formed almost simultaneously.

　　大体上说，每个给定星团中的恒星差不多是同时形成的。

 

 

Besides, the following phrases are also frequently used to express possibilities.

1. there is the possibility. 有可能

There is the probability that we were wrong. 有可能是我们错了。

2. the chances are that  or   It is likely that很……有可能

Chances are that they'll be late anyway. 总之，他们很可能会迟到。

3. in all probability  很有可能，十之八九

She will, in all probability, have left before we arrive.

她十有八九会在我们到达之前就已经离开了。

4. there is every probability that  极有可能

There is every probability that she is not coming.  她很有可能不来了。

 

Let’s see more examples:

1. You may be right.  你可能是对的。

2. Everybody can make mistakes.  每个人都可能犯错误。

3. We might come again tomorrow.  我们明天可能还会来。

4. Maybe he didn't know where the classroom is. 他可能是没有找到教室在哪里。

5. Our manager must be tired after the long meeting.  开这么长时间的会，我们的经理一定累了。

6. My girlfriend is probably ill all these days, there is no news from her.

我女朋友这几天可能病了，一点消息都没有。

7. She is perhaps busy with the decoration of the new house.  她可能在忙于装修新房子。

8. It's possible that we get there on time.  我们可以准时到达那儿。

9. Is it probable that he has gone to see his parents?  他是不是去看他的父母去了？

10. It is very likely that all of them are in favor of the new project.  似乎他们都赞同这个新计划。

11. The possibility is that they all knew the answer before the test.  有可能他们地考试之前就知道答案。

12. Could you possibly give me a hand while I am doing the housework?

当我正忙着做家务的时候，你可以帮我一下吗？

Let’s look at the basic patterns in this unit.

Basic Patterns  基本句型

You may express possibility like this:

What’s the possibility of…?

It is possible that I might…?

Quite possibly.

Perhaps I’ll …

I could possibly…

It’s possible for you to … …

There is a strong / some possibility that ……

There is a high probability that … …

There is some likelihood that … …

There is no chance that … ....

There is no possibility that…

It’s not possible that…

There’s no way that …

It is impossible / improbable/ unlikely that … …