2 · Modal verbs
Maybe and probably: kěnéng
possibility
Kěnéng says something may be so — before the verb, or at the start of the sentence for the whole statement.
可能 means “may, might, perhaps, probably”: 他可能不来了, “he may not come after all”. It stands before the verb, and before 不 or 没 when the sentence is negative.
It can also open the sentence and cover the whole statement: 可能他忘了, “maybe he forgot”. Degrees are made with the usual words: 很可能, “very likely”, 不太可能, “unlikely”, and 不可能, “impossible” — 这不可能, “that can’t be”.
Because the word contains 能, English speakers take it for “can”. It is not about ability at all: 我可能游泳 does not mean “I can swim” but “I might go swimming”. For a skill the word is 会.
可能 and 会 combine easily: 明天可能会下雨, “it might rain tomorrow”. 会 on its own sounds more confident; 可能 leaves the door open.
The form
| may | 他可能在家。 |
| may not | 他可能不在家。 |
| maybe (the whole sentence) | 可能他忘了。 |
| very likely | 明天很可能会下雨。 |
| impossible | 这不可能。 |
| it is possible | 有可能。 |
The rules one by one
The form this topic is about
可能 stands before the verb, and before 不 or 没.
他可能没听见。He probably didn’t hear.
At the start of the sentence, 可能 covers the whole statement: maybe.
可能我记错了。Maybe I remembered it wrong.
The degrees: 很可能 likely, 不太可能 unlikely, 不可能 impossible.
这么晚了，他不太可能来了。It’s so late, he’s unlikely to come now.
可能 is about possibility, not ability: “can swim” is 会游泳.
我明天可能去游泳。I might go swimming tomorrow.
A closer look
Kěnéng, yěxǔ and dàgài
也许, “perhaps”, is a little softer and more hesitant than 可能, and it usually opens the sentence or stands right after the subject: 也许他不知道, “perhaps he doesn’t know”.
大概 is “probably” and also “roughly” with numbers: 大概十分钟, “about ten minutes”. And 恐怕, “I’m afraid”, marks a possibility the speaker would rather not see: 恐怕他不会来了, “I’m afraid he isn’t coming”.
How to spot it
- 可能
- 很可能
- 不可能
- 也许
- 大概
Example sentences
外面这么黑，可能要下雨了。It’s so dark outside, it’s probably going to rain.
他的电话一直占线，可能在开会。His line has been busy the whole time; he’s probably in a meeting.
我今天可能会晚一点儿回家。I may be home a bit late today.
一天学会汉语？这不可能！Learn Chinese in a day? That’s impossible!
你说的有可能。What you say may well be right.
钥匙可能在你的大衣口袋里。The keys might be in your coat pocket.
7 more example sentences
他今天没来，可能病了。He didn’t come today; he might be ill.
我下个月可能要搬家。I might be moving house next month.
可能是我没说清楚。Maybe I didn’t explain it clearly.
这件事他不可能不知道。He can’t possibly not know about this.
明天很可能会下雪。It is very likely to snow tomorrow.
你找的书可能已经被借走了。The book you are looking for may already have been borrowed.
价格可能会有一点儿变化。The price may change a little.
Worth knowing (1)
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Kěnéng as a noun
With 有 or 没有, 可能 is a noun, “a possibility, a chance”: 没有可能, “there is no chance”. As a question it asks politely whether something could be arranged.
有没有可能换一个时间？Is there any chance of changing the time?
The trap English speakers fall into
Watch out
Meant as “I can speak three languages”, the first sentence says “I might speak three languages” — as though you were not sure. 可能 is “maybe”; a skill is 会.
Kěnéng is “maybe”, not “can”.
Your turn
8 exercises on this topic. Your answers are checked in the browser; none of them leaves your device.