Usage of maybe

Grammar lesson

Maybe：averb (of possibility)

May be：modal verb (of possibility) + verb

Present possibility

Q：Do you think online shopping is dangerous?

We can use single adverbs:

• Maybe, because you can get hacked.
• Possibly, because you can get hacked.
• Perhaps, because you can get hacked.
• Potentially, because you can get hacked.

We can use modal verbs：

• It may (well) be, because you can get hacked.
• It might (well) be, because you can lose your ID.
• It could (well) be, because the shop might be fake.

to blow your socks off = to impress you

Future possibility

Will you shop online more in the future?

Modal verbs：

• I may (well) do. You know, it’s getting easier and saves me time.
• I could (well) do. You know, it’s getting easier and saves me time.

Averbs：

• Conceivably, companies like Amazon make it so easy with their ‘one-click shopping’.
• Feasibly, companies like Amazon make it so easy with their ‘one-click shopping’.

Adverbial phrases：

• There’s a good likelihood.
• There’s a fair chance.

Q：Will you go to work tomorrow?

Expressing stronger probability：

• It’s most probable.
• It’s highly probable.
• It’s very probable.
• It’s a safe bet.
• It’s more than likely.