Possibility
Could this happen, or is it possible to do it?
المعنى
Possibility means that something can happen or can be done, without saying that it will. It can describe what might be true or what the situation makes possible. Languages use helper verbs, endings, or words such as maybe, and some have no special verb form for this. Unlike Ability, Possibility need not depend on anyone's skill or strength.
طريقة التعرّف عليه
Look for an event or action presented as possible, without a claim that it is certain to happen.
في اللغة الأم
Arabic uses قد before a present-form verb and words such as ربما to express that something may happen or may be true. يمكن أنْ and من الممكن أنْ express what circumstances make possible, with the following verb in the subjunctive, often ending in -a. قد before a past-form verb often marks an actual completed event rather than uncertainty.
قد يتأخرُ القطارُ قليلًا. (Qad yataʾakhkharu al-qiṭāru qalīlan.)
قد with a present-form verb expresses a possible event.
يمكنُ أنْ نلتقيَ بعدَ العملِ. (Yumkinu an naltaqiya baʿda al-ʿamal.)
يمكن introduces a possibility allowed by the circumstances.
في اللغة قيد التعلم
English uses may, might, and could before a verb without to to express a possible event or situation. Can often describes what is possible in general or in given circumstances, rather than a guess about one event. Maybe often goes at the start of a sentence and is written as one word.
Ella might be at home.
The speaker considers this possible but does not know whether it is true.
Maybe we'll take the train.
Maybe is one word and makes the plan uncertain.
It can get cold here at night.
Can describes a general possibility, not a prediction about tonight.
Learners whose language uses the same form for a general possibility and an uncertain specific event may use can where may, might, or could is needed. Learners whose language uses one expression where English distinguishes maybe and may be may confuse these two forms.