may/might; there’s a possibility that ~ (可能性がある) – Japanese Grammar 可能性がある (kanousei ga aru)

Q: What JLPT level is 可能性がある?

JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Q: How do you use 可能性がある in a sentence?

Attach 可能性がある to the appropriate verb or noun form. May/might; there’s a possibility that ~

Q: Is 可能性がある formal or casual Japanese?

可能性がある is typically used in formal or written Japanese contexts.

可能性がある

N1 GRAMMAR ⏱ 0s study 📖 0 today

kanousei ga aru

may/might; there’s a possibility that ~

さ sa 甲斐もなく kai mo naku に難くない ni katakunai の極み no kiwami に ni いずれにしても / いずれにしろ / いずれにせよ izure ni shitemo / izure ni shiro / izure ni seyo を余儀なくされる o yogi naku sareru ときている to kiteiru ってば / ったら tteba / ttara たら〜ところだ tara~tokoro da ようが / ようと you ga / you to ではあるまいし dewa arumai shi べく beku だの〜だの dano~dano 何しろ nani shiro かつて katsute には当たらない niwa ataranai もはや mohaya を踏まえて o fumaete まみれ mamire さ sa 甲斐もなく kai mo naku に難くない ni katakunai の極み no kiwami に ni いずれにしても / いずれにしろ / いずれにせよ izure ni shitemo / izure ni shiro / izure ni seyo を余儀なくされる o yogi naku sareru ときている to kiteiru ってば / ったら tteba / ttara たら〜ところだ tara~tokoro da ようが / ようと you ga / you to ではあるまいし dewa arumai shi べく beku だの〜だの dano~dano 何しろ nani shiro かつて katsute には当たらない niwa ataranai もはや mohaya を踏まえて o fumaete まみれ mamire

🃏 Flashcard

可能性がある

kanousei ga aru

Tap to reveal usage

may/might; there’s a possibility that ~

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📊 Pattern Stats

JLPT Level N1

Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms

Reading kanousei ga aru

Post ID 51237

Patterns today 0

0 / 10 daily goal

📝 Usage Notes

may/might; there’s a possibility that ~

📖 How to use it

Expresses that something may happen or may be the case, often based on some evidence or reasoning.

Attaches to Attach to the dictionary form of a verb, the plain past form of a verb, or the plain form of an adjective (including な- adjectives with だ dropped). For nouns, attach directly: 名詞 + の可能性がある.

This pattern is used to indicate that there is a possibility of something occurring or being true. It is more formal and objective than かもしれない, often used in news, reports, or when discussing potential outcomes based on facts. It can also be used in daily conversation when you want to sound careful or analytical.

When using verbs, the verb takes its plain form (dictionary or past). For nouns and な-adjectives, you add の before 可能性. Note that this pattern emphasizes the existence of a possibility, not the speaker's subjective guess, so it's suitable for stating risks, forecasts, or hypotheses.

In speech, you might hear 可能性がある for current situations, and 可能性があった for past possibilities. For negative possibilities, you can say 可能性はない (no possibility) or use the negative form of the verb before it.

明日は雨が降る可能性があるので、傘を持って行ったほうがいいよ。

Ashita wa ame ga furu kanousei ga aru node, kasa o motte itta hou ga ii yo.

It might rain tomorrow, so you'd better take an umbrella.

彼はもう帰った可能性がある。

Kare wa mou kaetta kanousei ga aru.

There's a chance he's already gone home.

この薬には副作用が出る可能性があります。

Kono kusuri ni wa fukusayou ga deru kanousei ga arimasu.

This medicine may cause side effects.

Not かもしれないかもしれない is a direct expression of the speaker's guess, meaning 'might' or 'maybe'. 可能性がある is more objective and implies a real chance based on information or evidence. Use かもしれない for casual personal speculation, and 可能性がある when you want to sound factual or formal.

Register Neutral to formal; common in news, academic writing, and business contexts, but also used in everyday speech when discussing probabilities carefully.

🎯 Quick Quiz

What does this grammar pattern mean or do?

可能性がある

📚 How to Master This Pattern

🔊

Say It Aloud

Press Hear it and repeat 可能性がある three times. Feel the rhythm — grammar patterns have a natural flow.

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Flip Before Reading

Always try to recall the usage before flipping the card. Struggle = learning. Every failed recall makes the next one stick harder.

✍️

Write Two Sentences

Compose two original sentences using 可能性がある. One about yourself, one about something you see right now.

⏰

Spaced Review

Save this pattern and revisit at 10 min, 1 day, 3 days. Production (writing) beats recognition for grammar.

🔗 More JLPT N1 Patterns

← Previous

甲斐もなく

despite; even though ~

からある / からする/ からの

at least; as much as; as many as ~

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What does the grammar pattern 可能性がある mean? ▼

May/might; there’s a possibility that ~

What JLPT level is 可能性がある? ▼

Nihoner currently groups this pattern under JLPT N1 — Advanced · Literary, rhetorical & rare forms. Use the level label as study guidance rather than a prediction of what will appear on an exam.

How do you use 可能性がある in a sentence? ▼

Attach 可能性がある (kanousei ga aru) to the appropriate verb or noun form as described in the usage notes. Then try writing two original sentences — one about yourself and one about something around you.

Is 可能性がある formal or casual Japanese? ▼

可能性がある is used in formal or written contexts. You will see it mainly in written texts, news, business Japanese and academic contexts.

How can I remember 可能性がある long-term? ▼

Use the flashcard on this page for active recall — see the pattern, reconstruct the usage from memory, then flip. Follow with the 4-choice quiz to distinguish it from similar patterns. Review later the same day and again over the following days. Writing original sentences can help you practise using the pattern in context.