ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Possible/possibility

optilang — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:49:05 GMT

I think the latter, as it would require a "double typo". Also the words are placed in a table in the book adjectives/nouns so I think it's an error.

Thanks for your help

Re: Possible/possibility

Yoong Liat — Wed, 21 May 2008 16:41:57 GMT

HI Optilang

That means it was either a typo or inadvertent error.

Re: Possible/possibility

optilang — Wed, 21 May 2008 12:47:19 GMT

The book is published by Cambridge University Press

Re: Possible/possibility

Yoong Liat — Wed, 21 May 2008 10:53:56 GMT

optilang
Thanks it's as I thought, but I have an English coursebook that has them the other way round!

Is the book written by a non-native speaker? If so, you should be careful. If there're more errors, I suggest you throw it into the dustbin.

Re: Possible/possibility

optilang — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:35:56 GMT

Thanks a lot for your help

Re: Possible/possibility

Marius Hancu — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:34:50 GMT

Right

Re: Possible/possibility

optilang — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:31:55 GMT

Thanks for that - but possibility cannot be an adjective right?

Re: Possible/possibility

Marius Hancu — Mon, 19 May 2008 20:28:09 GMT

According to Merriam-Webster Unabridged, possible can be a noun, adjective and adverb:

possible

Function: noun

1 a : POSSIBILITY, POTENTIALITY -- usually used in plural <all the infinite number of possibles -- Jonathan Edwards> b : all that can be done : BEST <had done my possible ... to gratify you -- Robert Southey>

2 possibles plural : necessary things (as supplies, equipment, money) <the hunters departed, each to look after his traps and possibles -- Mayne Reid>

3 : the highest attainable score for a number of rounds fired in target shooting; broadly : the highest attainable score in a competition

Re: Possible/possibility

optilang — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:03:03 GMT

Thanks it's as I thought, but I have an English coursebook that has them the other way round!

Re: Possible/possibility

Yoong Liat — Mon, 19 May 2008 19:01:07 GMT

'Possible' is an adjective.

'Possibility' is a noun.

Possible/possibility

optilang — Mon, 19 May 2008 18:52:28 GMT

Which is a noun and which is an adjective?