四种“可能”。possible,probable,likely,perhaps
(1)possible:可能性;合适的人;可能的事物。表示客观上潜在的可能性,也常常暗示”实际上希望很小”。常用的句式为“It is possible for sb.to do sth.”或“It is possible+that从句”。作表语时不能用人作主语。如:
It is possible for him to finish work.
It is possible that he shall finish work.
他很有可能完成这项工作。
(2)probable:很可能发生(或存在)的。指有根据、合情理、值得相信的事,带有“大概,很可能”的意味,比possible所指的可能性大些。常用的句式为“It is probable+从句”。如:
It is probable that he shall finish work.
他很有可能完成这项工作。
(3)likely:很可能的;有希望的。指有充分根据的预测。侧重从表面看,某事很可能发生,与probable意思相近;既可用人也可用物作主语。常用的句式为:“It is likely+that从句”或“sb.is likely to do sth.”。如:
It is likely that he will come.
他有可能会来的。
It is likely to rain.(https://www.daowen.com)
可能会下雨。
注意:不能说It is likely for sb.to do sth.
(4)perhaps:或许;也许。大体和possibly同义。perhaps是副词,意思是“也许、可能”,在句中作状语,相当于maybe,常位于句首。如:
Perhaps she’ll come this afternoon.
她可能今天下午来。
Perhaps you put the letter in your pockets.
大概你把信放在衣袋里了。
它们的可能性由大到小依次为possible→probable→likely→perhaps→maybe.