内容简介

想要描述一件事情 “可能会发生”，我们可以根据实际发生的可能性选用 “probably”、“possible”、“maybe” 或 “likely” 等单词。不过，在这些形容可能性的单词之间，哪个词所指出的可能性最高，哪个词又让某件事听起来不太可能发生呢？听节目，跟主持人 Georgie 和步理辨析四个描述可能性的单词。

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Buli
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC 英语教学的 “你问我答” 节目。I'm Buli.

Georgie
And I'm Georgie. We have a question here from one of our listeners.

Question
请问怎么区分表示可能性的英语单词 “probably”、“possibly”、“maybe” 和 “likely”？它们之间按可能性的高低顺序是怎么排列的？

Georgie
I think we can probably do that, don't you, Buli?

Buli
I do. These are all words to express probability. 这个问题中提到了四个用来表达不同的 “probability（可能性）” 的单词。就让我们按可能性从低到高的顺序来依次区分一下这几个词的含义。通常来说，在这几个单词中可能性最低的一个是 “possibly”。人们通常用 “possibly” 来表达一件事 “有可能发生，但非常不确定”。人们也通常用 “possibly” 来回应一个自己并不能完全保证或答应的请求。For example, Georgie, do you have time to help me with my work later?

Georgie
Hmm. Possibly, but I'll have to check my schedule to see if I have time.

Buli
Right. That doesn't sound too promising. 在刚才的对话中，Georgie 用 “possibly” 来回应我的请求，意思就是 “也许吧”，暗示了 “我很可能没办法做这件事”。

Georgie
Yes. We can use the word 'possibly' whenever we are unsure about something. Let's hear some more examples.

Examples
There's possibly some milk left in the fridge, but I haven't checked.
（冰箱里可能还有一些牛奶，但我还没确认。）

I have a friend that's possibly staying with me that weekend, but they haven't committed.
（我有个朋友可能在那个周末会在我家里借宿，但他们还没把这事定下来。）

Georgie
Next, we have 'maybe'. This has a similar level of certainty to 'possibly', but it behaves slightly differently.

Buli
是的。单词 “maybe” 和 “possibly” 所传达出的可能性差不多，都比较低。它们之间的区别在于，“possibly” 通常用在主语和主要动词之间，修饰一个动作，描述它发生的可能性；而 “maybe” 则通常用在句首，修饰一整句话。就比如说，我们可以用 “Maybe I'll see you later” 来表达 “也许我们稍后见吧”。

Georgie
Yes. It's still fine to say, 'I'll maybe see you later', but it's slightly less common. Let's hear some more examples with 'maybe'.

Examples
Maybe the train to work will leave on time this week.
（也许通勤的火车这周能准时发车。）

Maybe you'll be able to see a view of the city on the fifth floor.
（也许你在五层能看到这座城市的景致。）

Georgie
Now let's talk about the words which express more likelihood. Let's explain 'probably' next.

Buli
Sure. 'Probably' expresses more certainty than 'possibly' and 'maybe', but it's not as certain as 'likely'. 跟 “possibly” 和 “maybe” 相比，“probably” 这个单词所指出的可能性更高一些，相当于 “很可能”。人们通常会在形容可能性大于 50% 的事情时使用这个词。不过，我们有时也可以在口语交流中用 “probably” 搭配一定的语气来表示 “也许，大概” 的意思。

Georgie
Yes. There is a relatively high probability. Let's hear some examples.

Examples
I told my mum I'd probably be home on Sunday, but it depends on the train times.
（我告诉妈妈我可能周日回家，但这要看火车的时间。）

Look at those dark clouds. It's probably going to rain.
（瞧这些乌云。可能快要下雨了。）

Georgie
And lastly, we have 'likely'. It's similar to 'probably' but expresses an even higher level of certainty. There is a strong chance that something will happen.

Buli
没错。在问题提到的四个单词中，“likely” 所表达出的可能性是最高的。我们还可以用 “highly likely” 来强调 “某件事发生的可能性相当高”。来听一组例句。

Examples
She got amazing exam results, so it's highly likely she'll go to university.
（她考试的成绩特别好，所以她非常有可能会去上大学。）

He said he'd come to the party, so it's likely that he'll be there.
（他说过他会来参加聚会，所以他应该会来。）

Buli
OK. Time to recap. 最后让我们来总结一下本期节目中提到的四个描述可能性高低的单词。“Possibly” 和 “maybe” 的意思都是 “有可能”，可以用来描述可能性偏低的事情或动作。其中，“possibly” 更常用来修饰一个动作，而 “maybe” 则常用在句首修饰一整句话所描述的事情。“Probably” 的意思是 “很可能”，通常用来形容可能性超过 50% 的事情。“Likely” 的意思是 “非常可能”，所形容的可能性是这几个单词中最高的。我们还可以用 “highly” 这个词来修饰 “likely”，进一步强调 “某事发生的可能性相当高”。

Georgie
Remember, if you have a question that you'd like us to answer, you can email us too at: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk.

Buli
你也可以通过微博向我们提问。我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。Bye!

Georgie
Goodbye!