Cool MatePossible vs Prospective
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Possible
Top 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Prospective
Top 2,000 (common)C1adjective
Most common: Possible
| Possible | Prospective | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈpɒs.ə.bəl//🇺🇸 //ˈpɑː.sə.bəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/prəˈspektɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/prəˈspektɪv/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something that can happen or be done. | About someone or something that might happen in the future. |
| Example | It is possible to learn a new language. | a prospective buyer |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A1 | C1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective |
| Collocations | possible outcome, possible solution, possible scenario | prospective buyer, prospective employee, prospective student, prospective customer, prospective client |
| Antonyms | impossible, unfeasible | retrospective |
| Common mistakes | Confused with 'impossible' which means not able to happen., Omitting 'is' when saying 'It is possible'., Using it with a negative without proper context, e.g. saying 'not possible' instead of 'impossible'. | Confusing 'prospective' with 'retrospective', which relates to the past., Using 'prospective' incorrectly as an adjective for current situations. |
| Usage notes | Use 'possible' when discussing things that could happen. Avoid it in very formal contexts. | Use 'prospective' when discussing potential or future situations. It is appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, especially in formal discussions, such as job applications or educational settings. |
Frequently asked questions: Possible vs Prospective
What's the difference between Possible and Prospective?
Possible: Something that can happen or be done. Prospective: About someone or something that might happen in the future.
Which is more common: Possible and Prospective?
Possible is the most common in everyday English.
Are Possible and Prospective the same CEFR level?
Possible: A1, Prospective: C1 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Possible and Prospective interchangeably?
Not always. Possible and Prospective 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.