a line of probability

Status
Not open for further replies.

Ju

Key Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
I am trying to make a line of probability.

certain > very likely >> likely >> even chance >> fair chance >> poor chance >> unlikely >> very unlikely >> impossible

But I don't know where I shall put possible and probable.

Thanks.
 

DarkLightA

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Norwegian
Home Country
Norway
Current Location
Norway
I am trying to make a line of probability.

certain > very likely >> likely >> even chance >> fair chance >> poor chance >> unlikely >> very unlikely >> impossible

But I don't know where I shall put possible and probable.

Thanks.

'Possible' is used for anything that has a possibility of happening, so anything from very likely to very unlikely is possible.

'Probable' is used for anything that has a possibility of happening higher than 50%. So anything that is more likely to happen than not is probable.
 

Ju

Key Member
Joined
Nov 6, 2006
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
Hong Kong
Current Location
Hong Kong
'Possible' is used for anything that has a possibility of happening, so anything from very likely to very unlikely is possible.

'Probable' is used for anything that has a possibility of happening higher than 50%. So anything that is more likely to happen than not is probable.

Sorry, I have been thinking about your answers. But I still cannot figure out where shall I put Probable and possible on the line of probability. Kindly advise.

Thanks.
 

DarkLightA

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Norwegian
Home Country
Norway
Current Location
Norway
Your line of probability can't be completely linear. Possible incorporates everything except impossible, and probable is anything from likely and up.
 

5jj

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Oct 14, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
Czech Republic
Current Location
Czech Republic
certain > very likely >> likely/probable >> even chance/possible >> fair chance >> poor chance >> unlikely >> very unlikely >> impossible

That's my suggestion. However, depending on context and, in speech, on intonation, 'possible' could be used for something that is pretty unlikely.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I don't agree that "fair chance" is less likely than "even chance."

You can see how subjective this is.

Even tone of voice can change it. "Well," she said doubtfully, "I suppose it's possible, but I'm not going to count on it." That moves "possible" down to somewhere around "unlikely" or "very unlikely."
 

Coolfootluke

Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2011
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I am not a teacher.

And a fat chance and a slim chance are the same thing. It gets complicated fast.
 

DarkLightA

Member
Joined
Feb 20, 2011
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Norwegian
Home Country
Norway
Current Location
Norway
certain/possible > very likely/possible/probable >> likely/possible/probable >> even chance/possible >> fair chance/possible >> poor chance/possible >> unlikely/possible >> very unlikely/possible >> impossible

That's my suggestion. However, depending on context and, in speech, on intonation, 'possible' could be used for something that is pretty unlikely.

Corrected :-D
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
I am trying to make a line of probability.

certain > very likely >> likely >> even chance >> fair chance >> poor chance >> unlikely >> very unlikely >> impossible

But I don't know where I shall put possible and probable.

Thanks.
I think what you are trying to do is impossible or at least very difficult and I can't see any value in it. As Barb suggested, it's very subjective.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top