possible

英 ['pɒsəbl] 美 ['pɑːsəbl]

• adj. 可能的；尽可能的；合理的
• n. 适合候选的人

双解释义

adj. (形容词)

1. 可能的,可能存在〔发生,做到〕的; 潜在的

   that can exist, happen or be done

2. [P]也许(会发生)的

   that may be, happen, or be expected

3. 可接受的,合适的

   acceptable, suitable

详尽释义

adj. 形容词

1. 可能的，可能存在的
2. 合适的，合理的
3. 潜在的
4. 可允许的，可接受的
5. 相当的，尚可的，过得去的
6. 能做到，可能实行的
7. 可能有的，也许会有的

n. 名词

1. 可能性，潜在性
2. 恰当人选，合适的人，恰当事项
3. 可能的人，可能的事，可能的事物
4. [复]<俚>必需物品，金钱
5. 可能的获胜者，可能的候选人，候补人，生力军
6. 参加选拔赛的选手、球队，预备队员
7. （射击中的）最高得分

英英释义

Noun:

1. something that can be done;

   "politics is the art of the possible"
   

2. an applicant who might be suitable

Adjective:

1. capable of happening or existing;

   "a breakthrough may be possible next year"
   "anything is possible"
   "warned of possible consequences"
   

2. existing in possibility;

   "a potential problem"
   "possible uses of nuclear power"
   

例句

用作形容词 (adj.)

1. I'll do everything possible to help you.
   我会尽一切可能帮助你。
2. It isn't remotely possible that you will be chosen to go.
   挑选你去的可能性并非很小。
3. You'd better rest as much as possible.
   你要尽可能多休息。
4. As I'm going on a diet, I have to eat as little as possible.
   我正在节食,得尽量少吃。
5. There are several possible explanations.
   有几种合理的解释。
6. It is a possible choice for their factory to raise the output quickly.
   他们的工厂迅速提高产量是合理的。

常见句型

用作形容词 (adj.)

用作定语

～+ n.

1. He will get the greatest possible assistance.
   他将获得尽可能大的帮助。
2. Is there a possible chance of success?
   有可能获得成功的机会吗?
3. This is only one of many possible answers.
   这只是许多合理的答案之一。
4. We must reckon with all possible difficulties when we are considering the cost of the contract.
   我们考虑合同费用时必须认真考虑所有潜在的困难。
5. Several suggestions for possible examination questions were thrown out by the teacher.
   老师就哪些问题可能作为试题作了几点提示。
6. We must be prepared against possible natural disasters.
   我们必须准备应付可能发生的自然灾害。
7. They are ready against the possible invasion.
   他们防备可能的入侵。
8. Every possible risk has been provided for in this project.
   此项方案对各种可能发生的风险都作了准备。
9. May I put his name forward as a possible chairman of the committee?
   我能推荐他做委员会的主席吗?
10. There are three possible excuses.
    有3种可采取的借口。

n. +～

1. We have tried all the ways possible.
   一切可能的方法都试过了。
2. We must help them in every way possible.
   我们必须用一切可能的办法帮助他们。
3. I'll do everything possible to help you.
   我会尽一切可能帮助你。
4. They're working at the highest speed possible.
   他们在以尽可能快的速度工作。

用作表语

S+be+～

1. Is such a thing possible?
   这种事可能吗?
2. You should use your brain, and shouldn't regard what is possible as impossible.
   你应该动动脑筋,不应当把可能的事看作是不可能的事。

S+be+～+ prep .-phrase

1. It is possible of attainment.
   这事可能达到。

It is/was+～+to- v

1. It's late; it is still possible to get tickets nevertheless.
   虽然晚了,但仍然有可能弄到票。
2. Is it possible to stop over in Chicago on my way to San Francisco?
   我去旧金山途中能否在芝加哥停一下?

It is/was+～+for sb+to- v

1. It is possible for him to finish the work within three hours.
   要他在三小时内完成这项工作是可能的。
2. Is it possible for you to come to dinner this evening?
   你今晚能来吃饭吗?
3. Is it possible for such a person to turn himself into a good writer?
   这样的人有可能成为一名优秀作家吗?

It is/was+～+that-clause

1. It is possible that they will come today.
   他们有可能今天来。
2. It is possible that the doctor may want you to have an X-ray.
   医生也许会要求你做X光检查。
3. The supermarket is probably closed by now, but it's possible that it's still open.
   超市现在多半已经关门,但是也有可能还在营业。

经典引文

• The only possible place for a house in Shropshire is on a hill.

  出自： E. M. Forster

• A single feat of daring can alter the whole conception of what is possible.

  出自： G. Greene

• From the terrace it was possible to see the River Danube.

  出自： E. Feinstein

• When possible, run cold water over your wrists..in hot weather.

  出自： V. Bramwell

常用短语

用作形容词 (adj.)

as...as possible

尽可能 try best

if possible

如果可能的话 if can

词汇搭配

用作形容词 (adj.)

～+名词

• all the possible ways 所有可能的办法
• every possible way 每一个可能的办法

副词+～

• hardly possible 几乎不可能
• scarcely possible 几乎不可能
• conceivably possible 想来是可能的
• easily possible 完全可能的
• economically possible 在经济上是合算的
• humanly possible 尽人力所能
• perfectly possible 完全可能的

～+介词

• possible for 对…可能的
• possible of 可能…的
• possible of realization 实现的可能性
• be possible with sb 对某人来说是可能的

词语用法

adj. (形容词)

1. possible的基本意思是“可能的”“潜在的”,指某事可能做、可能存在或可能发生,也可指某事可能是真实的、正确的,引申可表示“可接受的”“合适的”。
2. possible还可作“也许的”解,指某事物或大或小、或有或无的、或发生或未发生的可能性,作此解时,只用作表语。
3. possible在句中用作定语时,可前置,也可后置。修饰anything, something, everything, all, every, the only或最高级形容词时常后置。
4. possible可用作先行主语it的表语,后面跟动词不定式或that从句作真实主语。
5. possible是绝对形容词,没有比较级和最高级,也不受very修饰。

词义辨析

adj. (形容词)

as ... as possible, as ... as sb can

• 这两个短语的意思都是“尽可能地”“尽力地”。前者的语气比后者更有礼貌。例如:
• He sat as far away from the others as possible./He sat as far away from the others as he could.他尽可能地和其他人坐得远一些。

possible, likely, probable

• 这三个词均表示“可能”。
• 1.probable常指有较大的可能性,表示客观上潜在的可能性,较有根据和充分理由而值得相信的事,意味着经过权衡正反两方面的理由后而相信的事大概会发生的,常译作“很可能”。
• 2.possible指有可能小,但强调客观上有可能性,且常有可能性较小的暗示。
• 3.likely作形容词时意为“很可能,大概,也许”,侧重表示从表面迹象看来某人有可能做某事或某事有可能发生。

下面两句意思相同:

• Is it possible to rain today?
• Is it possible that it will rain today?
• 今天可能下雨吗?

常见错误

adj. (形容词)

1. 可能发生…

   误 It's possible to happen ...

   误 It's possible to be done ...

   正 It's possible ...

   析 possible本身就意味着that may happen或that can be done,故不能说It's possible to happen...或It's possible to be done...。

2. 他认为她那天有可能回来。

   误 He thought it was possible that she should come back that day.

   正 He thought it was possible that she would〔might〕 come back that day.

3. 她可能会把我忘了吗?

   误 Is it possible that she may have forgotten me?

   正 Is it possible that she can have forgotten me?

4. 你不可能需要经济上的援助。

   误 It is impossible that you shall need any financial support.

   正 It is impossible that you should need any financial support.

   析 it is possible that后面通常接will〔shall〕, may, would或might,很少接should或could〔can〕,因为所表示的或者就是事实或者可能性较大。当用于否定句或疑问句时,后面则接should或can/could,对事实或可能性提出质疑或根本不相信。

5. 我会尽快来。

   误 I'll come as soon as possibly.

   正 I'll come as soon as possible.

   析 as...as possible是as...as it is possible缩略形式,只能用形容词possible,不可用副词possibly。

6. 你今晚能来吃饭吗?

   误 Are you possible to come to dinner this evening?

   正 Is it possible for you to come to dinner this evening?

   析 当表示“某人有可能做某事”时,须用It is/was possible for sb to- v 结构,不能用sb is/was possible to- v 结构,即possible不能以人作主语。

词源解说

• ☆ 1300年左右进入英语，直接源自拉丁语的possibilis，意为可以完成的；最初源自该语的posse，意为可以，能够。

近反义词

【近义词】

• achievable
• attainable
• likely
• workable
• probable
• feasible

【反义词】

• impossible
• unthinkable
• unlikely