Cool MateNot very probable vs Rare vs Remote
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not very probable
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Rare
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Remote
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1adjective
Most common: Rare
| Not very probable | Rare | Remote | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈvɛri ˈprɒbəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈvɛri ˈprɑbəbəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/reə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rer/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/ |
| Meaning | something that is unlikely to happen | not common or usual | Far away or not near. |
| Example | It’s not very probable that they will win the game. | The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations. | She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | not very likely, not very possible, not very realistic | be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very | appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, from |
| Antonyms | certain, likely | common, usual, frequent | near, close, local |
| Common mistakes | Using 'not very possible' instead of 'not very probable', Confusing with 'unlikely' without understanding subtle differences, Using it in overly formal contexts | Confusing 'rare' with 'rarely', which has a different meaning., Using 'rare' to describe frequency instead of quality., Misplacing 'rare' in sentences, leading to unclear meaning. | Confused with 'remotely' which has a different grammatical use., Using 'remotes' as a plural, when 'remote' is often uncountable in this context. |
| Usage notes | Use this phrase in discussions about events that are doubtful. Avoid in formal writing where more precise language may be expected. | Used to describe something that is not often found or experienced. Suitable in both spoken and written contexts. Avoid using in very informal situations. | Use 'remote' to describe something that is far away in distance or time. It's suitable in both written and spoken contexts. Avoid informal situations where a more direct term might be preferred. |
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Frequently asked questions: Not very probable vs Rare vs Remote
What's the difference between Not very probable, Rare, and Remote?
Not very probable: something that is unlikely to happen Rare: not common or usual Remote: Far away or not near.
Which is more common: Not very probable, Rare, and Remote?
Rare is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Not very probable: It’s not very probable that they will win the game. Rare: The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations. Remote: She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job.
Can I use Not very probable, Rare, and Remote interchangeably?
Not always. Not very probable, Rare, and Remote are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.