Introduction
Learning when to use possível versus possivelmente helps English-speaking learners avoid common mistakes in Portuguese. These two related words look similar but belong to different grammatical categories: one is an adjective and the other is an adverb. This article explains the rules, gives clear examples in Brazilian Portuguese, and highlights typical usage and cultural notes.
- Basic difference: adjective vs adverb
- When to use possível (adjective)
- When to use possivelmente (adverb)
- Comparing similar sentences to see the nuance
- Using possível in the phrase é possível que + subjunctive
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
- Stylistic and register considerations
- Short grammar summary
- Useful expressions that include possível
- Cultural and usage notes
- Conclusion
Basic difference: adjective vs adverb
Possível is an adjective. It modifies nouns and agrees in gender and number with the noun it describes. Use possível when you want to say that something is feasible, likely, or able to happen in relation to a noun.
Possivelmente is an adverb. It modifies verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs and does not change form. Use possivelmente when you want to qualify an action or to express uncertainty about how something happens.
Quick examples to feel the difference
Adjective: A solução é possível.
Adverb: Ela possivelmente vai chegar tarde.
When to use possível (adjective)
Use possível whenever you are directly describing a noun. Remember to match gender and number with the noun.
Forms to memorize: possível (masculine/feminine singular), possíveis (plural for both genders).
Structure and examples
Noun + verb + possível:
É possível um atraso no voo.
Essa solução é possível.
Adjective agrees with the noun:
Um resultado possível é a eliminação do erro.
Duas alternativas possíveis são apresentadas.
Use possível with ser to express capability or likelihood in relation to a thing or situation:
É possível a mudança de horário.
Não é possível a conclusão hoje.
Common collocations with possível
É possível que + subjunctive (common structure to express possibility about a clause):
É possível que ele venha amanhã.
Note: Here possível is technically an adjective but functions inside a fixed impersonal phrase introducing possibility; the verb following this phrase normally takes the subjunctive.
Other collocations:
o mais possível (as … as possible)
Exemplo: Estude o mais possível para a prova.
When to use possivelmente (adverb)
Use possivelmente to modify verbs, adjectives, or entire clauses. It states that something is possible but focuses on how likely or uncertain an action or state is. Possivelmente never changes form.
Structure and examples
Modifier of a verb:
Ele possivelmente chegou mais cedo.
Modifier of an adjective or another adverb:
Isso é possivelmente improvável.
Ela fala possivelmente muito rápido.
Modifier of a whole sentence to express uncertainty about the entire proposition:
Possivelmente, vamos adiar a reunião.
Position in the sentence
Possivelmente is flexible in placement but commonly appears before the verb or at the start of the sentence to emphasize uncertainty.
Before the verb: Ele possivelmente esqueceu o documento.
At the sentence start: Possivelmente, ele esqueceu o documento.
Comparing similar sentences to see the nuance
Sentence pair 1:
É possível um erro no relatório.
Possivelmente houve um erro no relatório.
Explanation: The first focuses on the error as a possible thing related to the report (adjective). The second expresses uncertainty about the occurrence of the error (adverb modifying the verb houve).
Sentence pair 2:
Uma solução possível é aumentar o orçamento.
Nós possivelmente vamos aumentar o orçamento.
Explanation: The first names a feasible solution (adjective). The second expresses uncertainty that the action of increasing the budget will happen (adverb).
Using possível in the phrase é possível que + subjunctive
The impersonal phrase É possível que + subjunctive is extremely common in Brazilian Portuguese to express possibility about a clause. Although possível is an adjective, the structure behaves like a multiword expression and the following verb typically appears in the subjunctive mood.
Examples:
É possível que ela venha amanhã.
É possível que nós tenhamos que esperar.
Cultural note: In spoken Brazilian Portuguese, some speakers may use the indicative in casual speech after É possível que, but formal writing and careful speech favor the subjunctive.
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Using possivelmente to modify a noun. Since possivelmente is an adverb, it cannot agree with or directly describe a noun. Correct by using possível with the noun.
Wrong: Uma solução possivelmente seria…
Right: Uma solução possível seria…
Mistake 2: Using possível to modify a verb. If you want to express that an action may happen, use possivelmente or the construction É possível que + subjunctive.
Wrong: Ele possível virá amanhã.
Right: Ele possivelmente virá amanhã.
Or: É possível que ele venha amanhã.
Mistake 3: Gender and number agreement. Forgetting to pluralize possível when needed.
Wrong: Duas alternativas possível são boas.
Right: Duas alternativas possíveis são boas.
Stylistic and register considerations
Both words are neutral and can be used in formal and informal contexts. However, the phrase É possível que + subjunctive sounds more formal or cautious, making it common in written communication, formal conversations, news, and official announcements.
Possivelmente is slightly more conversational when placed before a verb and often used in spoken Brazilian Portuguese to indicate probability without committing to subjunctive structures.
Examples in everyday Brazilian Portuguese
1) Conversational: Ele possivelmente vai ligar mais tarde.
2) Formal: É possível que ele ligue mais tarde.
3) Describing options: Existem soluções possíveis para o problema.
4) Uncertain planning: Possivelmente, vamos viajar no fim de semana.
Short grammar summary
Possível = adjective. Modifies nouns, agrees in gender and number. Used to describe feasibility or likelihood attached to a noun or in impersonal constructions like É possível que + subjunctive.
Possivelmente = adverb. Modifies verbs, adjectives, or whole clauses. Does not change form. Use it to express uncertainty about actions or states.
Remember these quick checks before choosing
Does the word modify a noun? Use possível and match gender/number.
Does the word modify a verb, adjective, or entire sentence? Use possivelmente.
Is it an impersonal phrase expressing possibility about a clause? Use É possível que + subjunctive for more natural Brazilian Portuguese in formal contexts.
Useful expressions that include possível
o mais possível — as … as possible
o menos possível — as little as possible
tudo o possível — everything possible
quando for possível — when it is possible
Cultural and usage notes
Brazilian Portuguese speakers use these words frequently in everyday conversations, work emails, and news. When expressing uncertainty, Brazilians often prefer simpler constructions in speech, so you will hear both É possível que + subjunctive and possivelmente + verb depending on how formal the context is.
Also note that intonation and context can change nuance: starting a sentence with Possivelmente can make the statement sound more tentative and polite, which is useful in softening opinions or proposals.
Conclusion
Choosing between possível and possivelmente is straightforward once you remember that one is an adjective and the other an adverb. Use possível to describe nouns and in the impersonal phrase É possível que + subjunctive, and use possivelmente to qualify verbs, adjectives, or whole sentences to express uncertainty. Pay attention to agreement and register to sound natural in Brazilian Portuguese.
