Es imposible que podamos reunirlos a todos.
It is impossible for us to gather them all.Es muy improbable que lo consigamos.
It’s very unlikely/improbable that we’ll get it.Es poco probable que se hayan enterado.
It’s unlikely that they have found out.These expressions are also found in tenses other than the present, as shown by the
examples below. But note that the complement verb, which is in the subjunctive, must
show agreement with the main verb. Thus, if the main verb is in the conditional, the
complement verb must be in the imperfect and not the present subjunctive.Será imposible que nos entiendan.
It will be impossible for you/them to understand us.Sería imposible que nos entendieran.
It would be impossible for you/them to understand us.To say that something is unlikely or not very likely we can also use the expression Es
poco probable que+ subjunctive:Es poco probable que lo sepan.
It is unlikely that they may know it.15.5 (p. 58); 18.3.3 (p. 92);^32 (p. 191)
48.1.4 Poder+ infinitive
Poder, ‘may’, is often used in the expression of possibility in sentences like the
following:Puede venir mañana.
He/she may come tomorrow.Pueden haber llegado.
They may have arrived.The first sentence is equivalent to Es posible que venga mañana, ‘it is possible that
he/she may come tomorrow’, while the second can be expressed as Es possible que
hayan llegado, ‘it is possible that they may have arrived’. Both constructions are
equally frequent, but the one with puede is more common in the spoken language.21.1 (p. 99)
48.1.5 Puede (ser) que+ subjunctive
Puede (ser) que... , ‘maybe.. .’, is an impersonal expression, as puede here does not
refer to a specific person, unlike puede or pueden in the previous construction, which
stand for ‘he/she may’ and ‘they may’ respectively. This phrase is especially common in
the spoken language.Puede (ser) que hayan salido.
They may have gone out.EXPRESSING POSSIBILITY AND PROBABILITY 48.1