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Éventuel, possible and éventuellement: keep the meaning of “perhaps”

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Éventuel and possible both leave an option open. Compare their sentence patterns, avoid the eventually false friend and check five job-planning examples.

In short

Éventuel means possible: un éventuel entretien is an interview that may happen. Possible has a wider range of sentence patterns, including C’est possible and Il est possible de venir. Éventuellement means possibly or if needed; English “eventually” often becomes finalement or finir par.

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A person prepares for an interview beside a jacket, portfolio and phone.
Un éventuel entretien is an interview that may still happen. Illustration: Atelier
  • éventueleventual, finalpossible; that may happen

    Je suis disponible pour un éventuel entretien.I’m available for a possible interview.

    For the outcome reached at the end, use wording such as le résultat final. Here, un entretien possible also describes a possible interview.

  • éventuellementeventually, in the endpossibly; if needed

    Je peux éventuellement commencer lundi.I could perhaps start on Monday.

    For “She eventually found a job”, say Elle a fini par trouver un emploi. For “In the end, she accepted”, say Finalement, elle a accepté.

A possible change, or something you can do?

The words overlap beside a noun; the whole sentence matters
What you meanFrenchHow it works
A change that may happenun éventuel changement / un changement possibleBoth phrases leave the change open.
Another date is an option.Une autre date est possible.Possible can follow être.
You can apply online.Il est possible de postuler en ligne.Use possible de + infinitive.
Perhaps; if neededNous pourrons éventuellement changer la date.Éventuellement leaves a change as an option.
An outcome after some timeElle a fini par trouver un emploi.Finir par + infinitive expresses the eventual outcome.
  • Il est éventuel de modifier la date.Il est possible de modifier la date.

    To say an action is possible, use Il est possible de + infinitive. Keep éventuel with a noun: une éventuelle modification.

Does éventuel mean eventual in French?

Une candidature, puis un échange
  1. Responsable

    Votre candidature nous intéresse. Seriez-vous disponible pour un éventuel entretien la semaine prochaine ?

    Your application interests us. Would you be available for a possible interview next week?

  2. Candidate

    Oui. Un entretien mardi après-midi serait possible.

    Yes. An interview on Tuesday afternoon would be possible.

  3. Responsable

    Merci. Nous pourrons éventuellement organiser un deuxième entretien.

    Thank you. We may be able to arrange a second interview if needed.

  4. Candidate

    D’accord, j’attends votre confirmation.

    All right, I’ll wait for your confirmation.

The candidate has given her availability. The first interview is still to be confirmed, and the second is only an option. Compare the later result: Après plusieurs échanges, nous avons finalement fixé une date — after several exchanges, we finally settled on a date.

Agreement: double the l in the feminine
Nounéventuelpossible
un changementéventuelpossible
une modificationéventuellepossible
des changementséventuelspossibles
des modificationséventuellespossibles
Question 1No account needed
What does un éventuel entretien mean?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

An interview that may take place.. Éventuel leaves the interview as a possibility. The phrase gives neither a confirmed appointment nor its position in a series.

Question 2No account needed
Complete the sentence saying that changing the appointment is possible.Il est ___ de modifier le rendez-vous.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

possible. The construction is Il est possible de + infinitive. Here the infinitive is modifier.

Question 3No account needed
Choose the closest English meaning.Nous pourrons éventuellement vous rappeler demain.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

We may be able to call you back tomorrow.. Éventuellement expresses a possibility. The sentence leaves tomorrow’s call open; it gives no final outcome.

Question 4No account needed
“After several interviews, she eventually found a job.” Choose the sentence that reports this outcome.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Après plusieurs entretiens, elle a fini par trouver un emploi.. Elle a fini par trouver reports the outcome reached after several interviews. The other sentences leave finding work as a possibility.

Question 5No account needed
Complete the adjective describing possible changes.Nous discuterons des modifications ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

éventuelles. Modifications is feminine plural. Use éventuelles, with double l and final -s.

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