possible
- possibly
‘possible’
Possible is an adjective. If something is possible, it can be done or achieved.
It is possible for us to measure the amount of rain.
Some improvement may be possible.
Possible is often used in expressions such as as soon as possible and as much as possible. If you do something as soon as possible, you do it as soon as you can.
I like to know as much as possible about my patients.
He sat as far away from me as possible.
Be careful
Don't say ‘as soon as possibly’.
Don't say ‘as soon as possibly’.
You also use possible to say that something may be true or correct.
It is possible that he made a mistake.
That's one possible answer.
‘possibly’
Possibly is an adverb. You use possibly to show that you are not sure about something.
Television is possibly to blame for this.
She is always cheerful, which is possibly why people like her.
You also use possibly when you are asking someone to do something in a very polite way. For example, you say ‘Could you possibly carry this for me?’
Could you possibly meet me there tomorrow at ten?