probable
probable — 形容詞
- probablepositive
- more probablecomparative
- most probablesuperlative
1. having a strong chance of being true or of actually happening, based on the avai
很可能
非常可能發生或屬實
having a strong chance of being true or of actually happening, based on the available evidence or on what you already know — for example, when dark clouds gather, rain is probable.
It is probable that Sayaka will get the job, since she has the most experience.
Sayaka 很可能會得到這份工作，因為她的經驗最豐富。
it is probable + that-clause for likelihood about the future
The most probable cause of the fire was a faulty electrical wire in the kitchen.
這場火災最可能的原因是廚房裡一條故障的電線。
probable + noun (attributive position)
It is highly probable that the ancient temple was built over 2,000 years ago.
這座古廟很可能是在兩千多年前建造的。
collocation: highly probable + that-clause
Rain is probable this weekend, so Tuan decided to move the picnic indoors.
這個週末很可能會下雨，所以 Tuan 決定把野餐改到室內。
- highly probable
- most probable
- quite probable
- probable cause
- probable outcome
- probable explanation
- probable result
- it is probable that
- likely
more common in everyday speech; can be used with to-infinitive ('is likely to happen') where probable cannot
- possible
weaker than probable — suggests something may happen or be true but with less certainty
- plausible
focuses on seeming reasonable or believable rather than on statistical or evidential likelihood
- improbable
direct opposite; suggests something is unlikely to be true or to happen
- unlikely
less formal counterpart of improbable; preferred in conversation
文法句型
it is probable + that-clause
probable + noun
noun + be + probable
用法筆記
Probable suggests a stronger likelihood than possible but a weaker one than certain. Unlike likely, probable is not used with a to-infinitive (❌ 'He is probable to come' → ✅ 'It is probable that he will come'). It appears most often in formal or written English; in everyday conversation, likely is more natural. The most common sentence pattern is it is probable + that-clause.
常見錯誤
同根字
- probably副詞B1
- probability名詞B2
- improbable形容詞B2
- improbably副詞C1
- improbability名詞C1