Expressing Possibility
Expressing Possibility
Understanding Possibility vs. Probability
Possibility is the chance that something may happen or be true, while probability is the likelihood of something happening or being true:
Example: "Until yesterday, the project was just a possibility, but now it has become a real probability."
Expressing Possibility
- My grandmother may travel alone.
- She may make the trip alone.
- Perhaps she will visit London.
- Possibly, she will go by plane.
- It's possible that someone will meet her at the airport.
- She might buy some presents for the family before she goes.
- I suppose she might spend a lot of money on the presents.
- There's a chance she'll like the city.
- She will take an umbrella as it could rain heavily there.
Expressing Impossibility
- No, it's impossible to repair that old Chevrolet.
- Even a good mechanic can't possibly fix it.
- We may not be able to travel by car.
- There's no chance my father will repair it tomorrow.
Key Points to Remember
May vs. Might:
- "May" and "might" are used interchangeably to express possibility, with "might" suggesting a slightly lower probability.
Expressing Impossibility:
- Use phrases like "impossible," "can't possibly," "no chance," and "may not be able to" to convey that something cannot or is highly unlikely to happen.
Example Dialogue:
Person A:
Do you think she will visit London alone?
Person B:
She may make the trip alone. Perhaps she will go by plane. It's possible that someone will meet her at the airport.
Person A:
Will she buy presents before leaving?
Person B:
She might. I suppose she might spend a lot of money on them.
Person A:
Do you think she'll like the city?
Person B:
There's a chance she'll like it. She will take an umbrella as it could rain heavily there.
Person A:
Can we repair that old Chevrolet?
Person B:
No, it's impossible to repair it. Even a good mechanic can't possibly fix it.
Person A:
Can we travel by car?
Person B:
We may not be able to. There's no chance my father will repair it tomorrow.