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Possible or probable? Eight French questions on likelihood

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose between possible and probable in eight French questions. Read short messages, keep the speaker’s meaning and practise adjective agreement.

In short

Possible means something can happen or be done. Probable means the speaker considers it likely. Un changement possible leaves a change open; un changement probable presents it as expected. A likely result can still turn out differently.

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Two colleagues discuss plans beside an empty meeting room in a French office.
The available room makes another meeting date possible. Illustration: Atelier

possiblepossible

Focus: an available option or an outcome that can happen

Une autre date est possible.
Another date is possible.

Il reste plusieurs solutions possibles.
Several possible solutions remain.

probablelikely; probable

Focus: the outcome the speaker expects

Un changement de date est probable.
A change of date is likely.

C’est l’explication la plus probable.
It’s the most likely explanation.

Same singular form for both genders
MasculineFemininePlural
possibleun choix possibleune solution possibledes solutions possibles
probableun résultat probableune réponse probabledes réponses probables
Un message de l’équipe
  1. Salomé

    Est-ce qu’on peut déplacer la réunion à jeudi ?

    Can we move the meeting to Thursday?

  2. Hugo

    Oui, c’est possible. La salle est libre.

    Yes, that’s possible. The room is free.

  3. Salomé

    Le changement est probable ?

    Is the change likely?

  4. Hugo

    Oui, presque tout le monde préfère jeudi. Mais attendons la confirmation.

    Yes, almost everyone prefers Thursday. But let’s wait for confirmation.

Peut-être means perhaps or maybe; probablement means probably. In a summary, keep the speaker’s degree of commitment: Selon Hugo, un changement est probable reports Hugo’s expectation. Le changement est confirmé announces confirmation. Those sentences give the reader different information.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Another date is available, but nobody has chosen it. Complete the message.Une autre date est ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    possible. Possible says the date is available. Certaine and confirmée would state more.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    The organiser expects a change, but it is not confirmed. Choose the closest wording.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Le changement est probable.. Probable expresses an expectation while leaving room for a different outcome.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    What does Hugo mean when he first says C’est possible?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Thursday is an available option.. At that point, Hugo only says the free room makes Thursday possible.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Which detail supports Hugo’s later assessment that the change is likely?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Almost everyone prefers Thursday.. Hugo bases his expectation on the group’s preference; he still awaits confirmation.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Complete the agreement.Nous avons deux solutions ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    possibles. The adjective takes plural -s with feminine plural solutions.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Complete the phrase for “a likely answer”.une réponse ___

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    probable. Probable is an adjective with the same masculine and feminine singular form.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Choose the closest English translation.Elle viendra probablement.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    She will probably come.. Probablement means probably; it presents her coming as likely.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Yesterday, a delay was likely. Today, the meeting started on time. Which sentence keeps both facts?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Le retard était probable, mais la réunion a commencé à l’heure.. An expected delay can fail to happen. The second sentence preserves the assessment and the actual outcome.

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