Cool MateNot very probable vs Remote
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Not very probable
Top 5,000 (fairly common)
Remote
Top 5,000 (fairly common)B1adjective
| Not very probable | Remote | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //nɒt ˈvɛri ˈprɒbəbl//🇺🇸 //nɑt ˈvɛri ˈprɑbəbəl// | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈməʊt/"]/ |
| Meaning | something that is unlikely to happen | Far away or not near. |
| Example | It’s not very probable that they will win the game. | She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 5,000 (fairly common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | - | B1 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | not very likely, not very possible, not very realistic | 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 | 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 | 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. | 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 Remote
What's the difference between Not very probable and Remote?
Not very probable: something that is unlikely to happen Remote: Far away or not near.
Can you show an example of each?
Not very probable: It’s not very probable that they will win the game. Remote: She works from a remote location, enjoying the freedom of her job.
Can I use Not very probable and Remote interchangeably?
Not always. Not very probable 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.