说明
probable/possible, probably/possibly
核心问题
Even if none of this is true for us today, it is probable that one day we will end up with disability.
查英汉词典, probable 与 possible 都作“可能的”解, 它们之间有无区别呢?
词典解答
probable 与 possible 译成汉语时有时很难加以区分,但是它们在英语里还是有区别的:前者所表达的可能性比后者大,并且推理的成分较重,表示说话者有相当的把握,确信会成为事实:
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His success is possible, but not probable. 他获得成功是可能的，但把握性不大。
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It is highly probable that he will take over his father's business. 他极可能接手他父亲的生意。
不难明白,如把你提问的句子里的 probable 改为 possible,则说话人那种深信不疑的口气和把握性,就会大大减弱。前面的说明也适用于副词 probably 和 possibly:
- In all there are probably no more than a total of 400 tigers left in China. 目前在中国留存
的老虎总数很可能只有 400 只。
- Possibly this person died without anyone knowing where the coins were hidden. 可能这个人去世后就没有人知道这批硬币藏在什么地方了。