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Maybe or may be ? - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary
- Quick Summary
- What Does Maybe Mean?
- What Does May Be Mean?
- What Is The Difference Between Maybe and May be?
Maybe is an adverb meaning “perhaps.” May beis a verb phrase that generally means the same thing as “might be.”
Maybe means “possibly” or “perhaps.” It often functions as an adverb, which in grammatical terms is a word that modifies (describes) a verb (among other functions). Maybe is commonly used to describe the probability of an action happening or not happening—maybe means it might or it might not happen. In other cases, it just means “perhaps.” These se...
May be isn’t a single word, nor is it used like one—it’s two separate words used together. Like maybe, it expresses uncertainty, but unlike maybe, it functions as a verb. It’s essentially the same as might be, and it’s used to indicate that something is uncertain but has a chance of being true (He may be who he says he is) or being what happens (Yo...
Remember, maybe is an adverb, and it’s used alongside verbs or as a standalone answer to a question. May befunctions as a verb. If you can replace the term with possibly or perhaps, use maybe. If you can replace the term with might be, use may be.
The Simple Trick to Maybe vs. May Be. If you can replace it with “potentially,” use maybe. If you can replace it with “might be,” use may be. If you're interested in knowing WHY this is true, read on! The Difference Between Maybe and May Be: The 9 Parts of Speech. Maybe and may be are both used to discuss possibility.
Jun 8, 2022 · Though both terms are correct, “may be” and “maybe” should be used under different circumstances. Discover when to use which here.
Maybe you have to know darkness before you can appreciate the light. (Author Madeleine L'engle) There are a lot of people who can't write and maybe shouldn't write. (Author Sarah Hepola) May Be "May be" (two words) is similar to "might be," "could be," or "would be." (The word "may" in "may be" is a modal auxiliary verb.) Try substituting the ...
Mar 28, 2024 · The main difference between “may be” and “maybe” lies in their parts of speech and usage. “May be” is a verb phrase that suggests a possibility. For example, “It may be raining outside.”. This means there’s a chance it is raining. On the other hand, “maybe” is an adverb that also indicates a possibility but is used ...
Feb 16, 2011 · maybe is an adverb, meaning perhaps or possibly. may be is a verbal construction, formed of the modal verb may and the verb be, which can be used in sentences like “he may be in the office today”. Note that, if you were to rewrite this sentence with maybe, you would say “maybe he is in the office today”.
