possible, probable, likely的用法精讲

句子：我们学英语时很可能犯错。
误译：We are probable to make mistakes when we learn English.
　　正译：
　　1. It is probable /Likely that we will make mistakes when we learn English.
　　2. Probably / Likely, we'll make mistakes when we study English.
　　3. We are likely to make mistakes when learning English.
解释：英语表示“非常可能”、“十有八九”等意思，可用probable/probably或likely。注意,likely既是形容词也是副词。
　　probable只能用在It is probable that的句型中，而不能说We are probable to do sth。但likely既可用在It is likely that...，也可用在We are likely to do sth的句型中。例如：
　　1.他很可能是忘了。
　　It is probable that he forgot.
　　2.他或许没听懂我的话。
　　Probably, he didn't catch my mean-ing.
　　3.她很可能被雨淋透了。
　　It is likely that she got soaked through in the rain.
　　注意：possible的概率小于probable，就像汉语中的“可能”、“大概”。possible同样也只能用于It is possible(for sb)to do sth的句型。例如：
　　4.这事多半如此，不只是可能。
　　It's probable, not only possible

What do you think is likely to happen? 你觉得可能会发生什么事情？

It’s quite likely that a decision will be made before the end of the year.很可能将要在年底以前做出决定。

possible的可能性最小, 指客观上有可能，往往含有 “希望很小”的意味。probable可能性最大,表示“很可能，十有八九”。  likely表示外表迹象表明的有可能。

下面两个句子可充分体现它们可能性大小的区别：

It’s possible but not likely/probable that he’ll come here next month.

他下月有可能来这里，但是不是很肯定。

It’s probable, not only possible. 这事多半如此， 不只是可能。

另外，这三个词中，只有likely还可以用人做主语。如： She is likely to go abroad .  

1.likely常用于以下两种结构中：

1) sb/sth. is likely to do sth.

He is likely to come.他可能要来。

It isn’t likely to rain.不大像要下雨。

2) It is likely + that clause  :

It is likely that he will succeed. 他有可能成功。

2. possible  常用于以下结构中：

It is possible (for sb.) to do sth.

It is possible for the train to be late.

It is possible that…

It is possible that the train is late. 火车有可能晚点。

3. probable用法：同样不用人做主语。只用于下列句型：

It’s probable that clause…

It is probable that it will rain today. Bring your umbrella with you. 今天极有可能要下雨。带上雨伞吧。

注意：possible,与probable都一般不用人做主语。

例如：我们可以说：

It is possible for him to lend us the car.

It is possible /probable that he will lend us the car.

但是我们不说：

He is possible / probable to lend us the car.

巩固练习

用likely, possible填空：

It is __ that it will rain today. Bring your umbrella with you.

She is not _______ to pass the examination as she doesn’t work hard.

It is _________ for them to lose the football match.

It is very ______ that they will win the match.

The weather is ______ to be fine.

C.选择

1. I think it quite _____ for us to reach the railway station before the train leaves.

  A. perhaps   B. possibly 

  C. likely     D. probably                    

2. Who is _______ to go traveling with us?

A. possible    B. likely   

  C. maybe     D. perhaps              

3. What do you think is the most _____ result?             

A. like      B. likely 

   C. possibly  D. probably

4. He began to realize his dream would not ______ come true.

A. probably    B. likely

C. possibly     D. perhaps        

5. Was it when no one had been _______ to do that that he came to deal with it?

A. maybe     B. possible   

   C. likely      D. probable      

[答案] probable/ likely / possible/ likely/ likely 1.2.3 likely 4.5: On 4), I would say "likely" again. I wouldn't choose "possibly" only because of "would not". If it were "could not", I would choose "possibly", as Clapec did.
As for 5), it doesn't look as if it's been written correctly. I can't make any of the words fit to my satisfaction. "Likely" is the best of all the bad choices; all the others are definitely wrong. I can't see how it makes much sense, though, with "likely" in it.

上面虽经外国人审阅，但仍有错误，下面是总结：

(1) possible, probable, likely
It’s probable / possible / likely that… (right) (OK)
sb./sth be likely to do sth… (right) (OK)
sb. / sth. be probable… (wrong) (OK)
sb. be possible to do sth… (wrong) (OK)
sth. be possible to do sth… (right) (No)
Example: The weather is possible to change. (Incorrect).
It is possible that the weather will change. (Correct).
It’s possible for sb. to do sth… (right) (OK).
It’s likely for sb. to do sth.… (wrong) (OK).
(2) multiple choices
A. perhaps B. possible (possibly)
C. likely D. probable (probably)
1. I think it quite _____ for us to reach the railway station before the train leaves.
Only B; <C is not right> (OK).
2. Who is ______ to go traveling with us?
Only C (OK).
3. What do you think is the most _____ result?
Only C (Also D).
4. He began to realize his dream would not ______ come true.
Only C (OK).
5. The car is _____ to be repaired.
Only C ; <B is not right> (OK)
6. Juvenile delinquency is _____ to prevent.
No answer. (OK).
7. Such accidents are not only ____ but also Only B, D in sequence (OK).

Dan: Henz, the word possible is an attribute of something other than the agent of the action or effort. Therefore, it seems the man is not possible, but his accomplishments are.
My dictionary says, however, that likely means possessing or displaying the qualities or characteristics that make something probable. That tells us that likely is an attribute of the agent, so it is all right to say, The man is likely....
Thus, the word likely fits the Chinese word order. Other words similar to likely are apt and liable.

[例]. The microphone enabled them to keep in touch, in other words, it made it _____ for them to contact each other.
   a. likely    b. capable  

  c. possible    d. probable
[答案]c. possible
[注]  capable of 还有一意思是“有可能”the car is capable  of being repaired .（这辆汽车是有可能修好的。）用于此义时，be capable of 后常接被动语态动名词或有动作意义的名词the situation is  capable of

improvement. possible 强调客观可能性，“可能的”程度比probable'大概的，很可能的低一些。

注意likely与possible在结构搭配上的区别。likely可用于下列句型中：1) it is likely that…例如：It is likely that he will succeed. (很可能他会成功)

2) think (feel, consider)it likely ...例如：i think it likely that we will ultimately get a certain amount of money.3)be likely to do sth.例如：he is likely to see you again .但下面的句型是错误的, it is likely for sb to do sth.所以think it likely for sb. to do sth.也是错误的，故本题不能选likely.