Cool MateNot very probable vs Rare
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
Most common: Rare
| Not very probable | Rare | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈvɛri ˈprɒbəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈvɛri ˈprɑbəbəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/reə(r)/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rer/"]/ |
| Meaning | something that is unlikely to happen | not common or usual |
| Example | It’s not very probable that they will win the game. | The museum has a collection of rare artifacts from ancient civilizations. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | not very likely, not very possible, not very realistic | be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | certain, likely | common, usual, frequent |
| 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. |
| 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. |
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Frequently asked questions: Not very probable vs Rare
What's the difference between Not very probable and Rare?
Not very probable: something that is unlikely to happen Rare: not common or usual
Which is more common: Not very probable and Rare?
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.
Can I use Not very probable and Rare interchangeably?
Not always. Not very probable and Rare 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.