Introduction
In Portuguese, expressing possibility with a touch of uncertainty is common in everyday conversation. One of the most useful phrases for this is É provável que. This article explains how to use it correctly, its grammar, common patterns, translations, and natural examples in Brazilian Portuguese. Ideal for beginner to intermediate learners who want to sound more fluent and nuanced.
- What É provável que means
- Grammar: why the subjunctive follows
- Patterns and sentence structures
- Neutral, formal, and colloquial variations
- Negation and emphasis
- Time references and tense choices
- Common verbs and collocations after É provável que
- Practical usage tips
- Examples in context
- Common mistakes to avoid
- Extra examples with translations
- Conclusion
What É provável que means
É provável que literally means it is probable that and indicates a likelihood or expectation without certainty. It is used when the speaker thinks something is likely but does not guarantee it. In many contexts it is equivalent to English it is likely that or probably, but Portuguese prefers the phrase with a subordinate clause.
When to use É provável que
Use É provável que to:
express expectations about future events, comment on present possibilities, or make cautious predictions. It is common in spoken and written Brazilian Portuguese when you want to sound polite, tentative, or less direct.
Grammar: why the subjunctive follows
One of the key points for learners is that É provável que is followed by the subjunctive mood. This is because the phrase expresses doubt, uncertainty, or nonassertive attitude toward the clause that follows. In Portuguese, many expressions of possibility, desire, emotion, or doubt trigger the subjunctive.
Present subjunctive formation
To form the present subjunctive for regular verbs, start from the first person singular of the present indicative, drop the -o, and add the subjunctive endings: for -ar verbs use -e, -es, -e, -emos, -em; for -er and -ir verbs use -a, -as, -a, -amos, -am.
Examples of conjugation:
falar: eu falo → que eu fale
comer: eu como → que eu coma
partir: eu parto → que eu parta
Why subjunctive, not indicative
If you use the indicative after É provável que, it sounds less natural and often wrong because the speaker is asserting rather than expressing probability. The subjunctive keeps the clause open and noncommittal. Compare the feel of the two options to understand the nuance.
Patterns and sentence structures
Common sentence patterns with É provável que include:
É provável que + [present subjunctive] — for present or future likelihood.
Era provável que + [imperfect subjunctive] — for past context, a probability in the past.
Present or future likelihood
Use present subjunctive to talk about what is likely now or what will probably happen later.
Examples:
É provável que ele chegue mais tarde.
É provável que nós ganhemos o jogo amanhã.
É provável que chova esta tarde.
Probability in the past
To express that something was likely in the past, use a past-tense form of the impersonal expression with the imperfect subjunctive in the clause.
Examples:
Era provável que ela não viesse à festa.
Era provável que eles tivessem esquecido o compromisso.
Neutral, formal, and colloquial variations
Portuguese offers alternative ways to express probability. Understanding these helps you choose the right tone.
Neutral written/spoken
É provável que is neutral and appropriate in both spoken and written contexts. It fits well in news reports, formal emails, and polite conversation.
More colloquial alternatives
In conversation, Brazilians often use simpler phrases such as provavelmente, deve ser que (less standard), or deve + infinitive. These alternatives sometimes replace the subjunctive structure.
Examples:
Provavelmente ele vem mais tarde. (uses adverb provavelmente)
Ele deve chegar mais tarde. (deve + infinitive)
More formal alternatives
For formal writing you can also use parece provável que followed by subjunctive, or é provável de que in some dialects (note: the standard form is É provável que). Formal texts often retain the subjunctive for clarity and correctness.
Negation and emphasis
When you negate É provável que, the structure and mood remain similar but the meaning flips to low probability.
Negation with não
Place não before the verb é or after to negate the expression. The clause still takes the subjunctive.
Examples:
Não é provável que ele chegue hoje.
Não era provável que ela aceitaria a proposta. (note use of imperfect subjunctive aceitar → aceitasse or aceitasse; avoid mixing tenses)
Emphasizing uncertainty
You can add adverbs to emphasize degree of likelihood: muito, pouco, bem, bastante, quase. These modify the impersonal expression, not the clause mood.
Examples:
É muito provável que o voo atrase.
É pouco provável que isso aconteça agora.
Time references and tense choices
Choosing the correct tense in the subjunctive depends on the time frame you are referring to.
Present or future events
Use present subjunctive for present or future reference.
É provável que ela esteja ocupada agora.
É provável que eles cheguem amanhã.
Past events
Use imperfect subjunctive when referring to a past possibility. You will often see the impersonal verb in the past (era provável que).
Era provável que ele estivesse doente naquela época.
Era provável que nós tivéssemos perdido o ônibus.
Conditional nuance
If you want to add a conditional idea (if X, then Y), you can combine É provável que with conditional structures, but the clause after que still follows subjunctive rules when uncertainty is involved.
Example:
Se chover, é provável que a festa seja cancelada.
Common verbs and collocations after É provável que
Some verbs naturally appear with É provável que in everyday speech. Become familiar with common verbs and their subjunctive forms to speak fluently.
chegar → chegue
vir → venha
fazer → faça
haver → haja (useful for impersonal constructions like haja problemas)
ser → seja
estar → esteja
Examples:
É provável que ele venha amanhã.
É provável que haja mudanças na empresa.
É provável que ela esteja ocupada agora.
Practical usage tips
1. Always use the subjunctive after É provável que to sound natural and grammatically correct.
2. Choose present subjunctive for present/future possibilities and imperfect subjunctive for past ones.
3. Use adverbs to adjust the degree of certainty without changing the mood.
4. In casual speech, Brazilians may prefer provavelmente or deve + infinitive, but learning the subjunctive structure will improve formal and written communication.
Pronunciation and rhythm
In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, É provável que often blends smoothly: the e in é and the stress on provável give a natural cadence. Practice linking the words and then the following clause to sound more fluent.
Cultural and usage notes
Brazilians frequently softens statements to be polite or diplomatic. Using É provável que is a common way to avoid sounding too direct or definitive, especially in professional settings, customer service, and social politeness. In casual situations friends might prefer shorter expressions, but the phrase remains useful and appropriate across registers.
Examples in context
Here are extended examples that show É provável que in different situations.
Work meeting:
É provável que o projeto seja adiado porque ainda não recebemos a aprovação do cliente.
Talking about weather:
É provável que chova no final da tarde, então leve um guarda-chuva.
Speculating about plans:
É provável que eu viaje no próximo mês, mas ainda não comprei as passagens.
Reflecting on the past:
Era provável que eles tivessem chegado antes de a festa terminar.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after É provável que. Incorrect: É provável que ele chega. Correct: É provável que ele chegue.
2. Mixing tenses incorrectly when talking about the past. Use era provável que + imperfect subjunctive.
3. Forgetting to adjust verb endings for irregular verbs in the subjunctive. Practice irregulars like ser → seja, ir → vá, ter → tenha, fazer → faça.
Extra examples with translations
É provável que nós ganhemos o concurso.
It is likely that we will win the contest.
É provável que ela não aceite a proposta.
She will probably not accept the offer.
Era provável que ele estivesse cansado depois da viagem.
He was likely tired after the trip.
Conclusion
É provável que is an essential phrase for expressing uncertainty and probability in Brazilian Portuguese. Remember to use the subjunctive after it, choose the correct tense for time references, and consider colloquial alternatives in casual speech. With practice, using É provável que will help you sound more natural, polite, and fluent when discussing possibilities.
