posible
/po-SEE-bleh/
possible
As an adjective, posible means 'possible' or 'feasible,' indicating that an action can be successfully completed.
posible(Adjective)
possible
?General use, indicating something can happen or be done.
feasible
?When talking about if a plan can be carried out.
,conceivable
?When talking about if something can be imagined.
📝 In Action
¿Es posible llegar antes de las cinco?
A1Is it possible to arrive before five?
Busco una solución posible al problema.
A2I'm looking for a possible solution to the problem.
No es posible que él no sepa la verdad.
B1It's not possible that he doesn't know the truth.
💡 Grammar Points
One Form for Masculine and Feminine
Good news! Posible doesn't change for gender. It's un plan posible (a possible plan) and una idea posible (a possible idea). It just adds an 's' for plural things: planes posibles, ideas posibles.
The 'Es posible que...' Trigger
When you say Es posible que... (It's possible that...), you're talking about uncertainty. This often triggers a special verb form called the subjunctive. For example: Es posible que llueva (It's possible that it will rain), not Es posible que llueve.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Using 'posible' for people's abilities
Mistake: "No es posible para mí ir a la fiesta."
Correction: No puedo ir a la fiesta. To say you 'can' or 'can't' do something, it's more natural to use the verb `poder` (to be able). Use `posible` for situations or events.
⭐ Usage Tips
Making Polite Requests
You can sound more polite by asking ¿Sería posible...? instead of asking directly. For example, ¿Sería posible cambiar mi cita? (Would it be possible to change my appointment?) is softer than ¿Puedo cambiar mi cita? (Can I change my appointment?).
When used as a noun with lo (as in lo posible), it refers to 'that which is possible' or the extent of what can be achieved.
📝 In Action
Hice todo lo posible para ayudarte.
B1I did everything possible to help you.
Dentro de lo posible, intentaremos terminar hoy.
B2As far as possible, we will try to finish today.
💡 Grammar Points
Turning an Adjective into an Idea with 'Lo'
In Spanish, you can put lo in front of an adjective to talk about the general concept or idea of that quality. So, lo posible means 'that which is possible' or 'the possible thing'. It's a common trick to turn adjectives into abstract nouns.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: posible
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly expresses 'It's possible that she will call tomorrow'?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between `posible` and `probable`?
`Posible` means something *can* happen, even if the chance is tiny (it's not impossible). `Probable` means something is *likely* to happen; there's a good chance. Winning the lottery is `posible`, but not very `probable`.
Why do I see `posible` with the subjunctive verb form so often?
Because `posible` is all about uncertainty! In Spanish, when you state something isn't a sure fact but just a possibility (like with 'es posible que...'), you switch to a special verb mood called the subjunctive to signal that uncertainty. It's a key feature of the language.