- Are you unsure whether to say “highly possible” or “very possible”?
- Do you struggle to find the right nouns to pair with “possible” in a professional report?
- Have you ever felt your English sounds repetitive when describing potential outcomes?
Mastering possible collocations is a vital step toward achieving native-like fluency. In English, words are rarely used in isolation; they travel in “packs” known as collocations. By learning which adverbs, nouns, and structures naturally pair with the word “possible,” you reduce your cognitive load, decrease language anxiety, and ensure your meaning is clear to listeners and readers alike.
Common Collocations with POSSIBLE as an Adjective
In 2024 English, “possible” functions almost exclusively as an adjective. It describes the potential for something to exist, happen, or be done. To sound natural, you must pair it with the correct intensifiers and nouns.
1. Adverb + Possible (Intensifiers)
These adverbs describe the degree or type of possibility. Using these correctly shows a high level of linguistic nuance.
- Humanly possible: Used to emphasize the limits of what a person can do.
Example: “We are doing everything humanly possible to find a solution.” - Technically possible: Used when something can be done according to science or rules, but might not be practical.
Example: “It is technically possible to live on Mars, but we lack the infrastructure.” - Remotely possible: Used (usually in the negative) to show a very slim chance.
Example: “It isn’t even remotely possible to finish the project by tonight.” - Barely possible: Used when something is only just achievable.
Example: “With the current budget, the expansion is barely possible.”
2. Possible + Noun (Direct Pairings)
In professional and academic writing, certain nouns are frequently modified by “possible.”
- Possible outcome: A result that might happen.
Example: “We need to prepare for every possible outcome of the election.” - Possible explanation: A reason that might be true.
Example: “One possible explanation for the error is a software glitch.” - Possible solution: A way to fix a problem.
Example: “The team suggested three possible solutions to the traffic issue.” - Possible consequence: An effect that might occur.
Example: “Loss of data is a possible consequence of a power surge.”
3. Fixed Phrases and Grammatical Structures
These are “chunks” of language that are used in daily conversation and business settings.
- As soon as possible (ASAP): At the earliest potential time.
Example: “Please return the signed document as soon as possible.” - If possible: Used to make a polite request.
Example: “I’d like a window seat, if possible.” - Where possible: Meaning “whenever it can be done.”
Example: “We use recycled materials where possible.” - Everything possible: To indicate maximum effort.
Example: “The doctors did everything possible to save the patient.”
The Master Summary Table
| Collocation | Part of Speech | Quick Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Humanly possible | Adverb + Adjective | Within the limits of human ability. |
| Possible solution | Adjective + Noun | A potential way to solve a problem. |
| Remotely possible | Adverb + Adjective | A very small, unlikely chance. |
| As soon as possible | Fixed Phrase | At the earliest time. |
| Possible outcome | Adjective + Noun | A potential result. |
| Technically possible | Adverb + Adjective | Possible according to technical rules. |
Common Mistakes: Natural vs Unnatural
Learners often translate directly from their native language, leading to awkward phrasing. Use the table below to ensure you sound like a native speaker.
| Do Not Say | Say This |
|---|---|
| I will do my possible. | I will do my best / I will do everything possible. |
| Highly possible | Very possible / Quite possible / Highly likely. |
| It’s possible for me to come. | I can come / It’s possible that I’ll come. |
| As quick as possible. | As quickly as possible (when describing an action). |
Contextual Story
“Dear Team, regarding the recent server downtime, we have identified a possible explanation involving the cooling system. While it is technically possible to restart the system immediately, we want to avoid every possible consequence of another crash. Please review the possible solutions listed in the attached report. We need to implement a fix as soon as possible to ensure we provide the best possible outcome for our clients. If possible, join the briefing at 4 PM today.”
Frequently Asked Questions about Possible Collocations
What is the difference between ‘possible’ and ‘probable’?
“Possible” means something can happen (even if the chance is 1%), while “probable” means something is likely to happen (usually more than a 50% chance). For example, winning the lottery is possible, but not probable.
Can I use ‘possible’ with the word ‘highly’?
<pWhile many learners use "highly possible," it is much more natural to say "very possible" or "highly likely." In corpus linguistics, "highly" pairs more frequently with "likely" or "unlikely."
Should I say ‘as soon as possible’ or ‘as quickly as possible’?
“As soon as possible” refers to the time something starts (earliness). “As quickly as possible” refers to the speed at which the action is performed. If you want someone to start a task now, use “as soon as possible.”
What preposition follows ‘possible’?
<p"Possible" is often followed by the preposition "for" (e.g., "It is possible for us to go”) or by a “that” clause (e.g., “It is possible that we will go”).
Is ‘all possible’ a common collocation?
Yes, “all possible” is frequently used with nouns like “measures,” “efforts,” or “means.” For example, “We took all possible measures to ensure safety.”
This post is very helpful. Could you do a similar article for collocations with the word 'IMPOSSIBLE' next? I think I confuse those too.
That's a great suggestion, Olga! We'll add 'Collocations with IMPOSSIBLE' to our content calendar for next month. Stay tuned!
I found the part about 'cognitive load' very interesting. It explains why I get so tired after speaking English all day—I'm not using enough collocations yet!
Can I use 'humanly possible' in a negative sentence? Like, 'It's not humanly possible to work 20 hours a day.'
Absolutely, Clara! Using it in a negative sense is actually very common to emphasize that a task is beyond someone's physical or mental capacity.
In my country, we often say 'maybe possible,' but my teacher says it's redundant. After reading this, I see why 'highly possible' is better.
I've noticed people say 'if possible' at the end of a request. For example: 'Please send the files by Friday, if possible.' Is that a formal collocation?
Yes, Liam! 'If possible' is a very common and polite way to soften a request. It’s widely used in both formal emails and casual conversation.
Does 'highly possible' mean the same thing as 'probable'? Or is there a slight difference in meaning between these two?
I'm an English teacher in Tokyo and I will definitely share this with my advanced students. The section on intensifiers is very clear and useful.
Thank you, Kenji! We're honored to have our materials used in your classroom. Let us know if your students have any specific questions we can help with!
Are there specific nouns that pair best with 'possible'? I often see 'possible outcome' or 'possible reason' in my textbooks.
I've been using 'everything humanly possible' wrong all this time. I used it to describe a computer's processing power last week!
That's a funny one, Carlos! Since it includes the word 'humanly,' we usually reserve it for actions taken by people. For computers, you might want to use 'technically possible' or 'computationally feasible' instead.
How does 'quite possible' compare to 'highly possible'? In my mind, 'quite' feels a bit weaker.