---
title: maybe — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «maybe» in the school dictionary: Maybe means perhaps: it might be true or might not, and you are not sure. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

<!-- md -->
[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/)

<!-- crumbs -->
[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/) / [school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/) / [M](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/) / maybe

# maybe

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** it, you, we, he, rain, plant · **What happens:** mean, be, not be, make, share, have · **To what, where:** polite suggestion, answer, 20 marbles, umbrella, 5 6, both · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«maybe» in the school dictionary: its 3 meanings for a pupil and its 9 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [maybe in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/maybe.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe means perhaps: it might be true or might not, and you are not sure.

<!-- fold The tree, 15 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:m1:1
# text = Maybe means perhaps: it might be true or might not, and you are not sure.
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	means	mean	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	perhaps	perhaps	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	8	punct	_	_
5	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	8	nsubj	_	_
6	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	aux	_	_
7	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	cop	_	_
8	true	true	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	parataxis	_	_
9	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	10	cc	_	_
10	might	might	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	8	conj	_	_
11	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	10	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	17	punct	_	_
13	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
14	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	17	nsubj	_	_
15	are	be	AUX	VBP	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=2|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	17	cop	_	_
16	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	17	advmod	_	_
17	sure	sure	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	8	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **mean** | present |  |  |  |  |  | maybe, perhaps *property* | vn intend-61.2-1 «NP V S»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **is** | might | it |  |  |  |  | true *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **not** **is** | present | you |  |  |  |  | sure *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe makes a polite suggestion or a soft answer: «Maybe we could share.».

<!-- fold The tree, 13 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:m2:1
# text = Maybe makes a polite suggestion or a soft answer: «Maybe we could share.».
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	makes	make	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	5	det	_	_
4	polite	polite	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	suggestion	suggestion	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
6	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	9	cc	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
8	soft	soft	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	2	punct	_	_
11	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	15	advmod	_	_
13	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	15	nsubj	_	_
14	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	15	aux	_	_
15	share	share	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	2	parataxis	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	15	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	2	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **make** | present |  | a polite suggestion or a soft answer |  |  |  | maybe *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **share** *in a quote* | could | we |  |  |  |  | maybe *property* | tree rules |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
As a noun, a maybe is an answer that is neither yes nor no.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:m3:1
# text = As a noun, a maybe is an answer that is neither yes nor no.
1	As	as	ADP	IN	_	3	case	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	noun	noun	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	3	punct	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
6	maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
7	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
8	an	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj	_	_
10	that	that	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	13	nsubj	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	cop	_	_
12	neither	neither	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	13	cc:preconj	_	_
13	yes	yes	INTJ	UH	Polarity=Pos	0	root	_	_
14	nor	nor	CCONJ	CC	Polarity=Neg	15	cc	_	_
15	no.	no.	NOUN	NN	Abbr=Yes|Number=Sing	13	conj	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present |  | a answer |  |  |  | maybe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe he has 20 marbles.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x1:1
# text = Maybe he has 20 marbles.
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	3	advmod	_	_
2	he	he	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Masc|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	3	nsubj	_	_
3	has	have	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	20	20	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	5	nummod	_	_
5	marbles	marble	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **have** | present | he | 20 marbles |  |  |  | maybe *property* | vn birth-28.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent marble=Patient |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe it will rain, so take your umbrella.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x2:1
# text = Maybe it will rain, so take your umbrella.
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	will	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	rain	rain	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	7	punct	_	_
6	so	so	ADV	RB	_	7	advmod	_	_
7	take	take	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	4	acl:relcl	_	_
8	your	your	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Person=2|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	9	nmod:poss	_	_
9	umbrella	umbrella	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **take** | infinitive | rain *not said here* | your umbrella |  |  |  |  | vn bring-11.3 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent umbrella=Theme |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Is it maybe 5 or 6? Check both.

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* Is it maybe 5 or 6?

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x3:1
# text = Is it maybe 5 or 6?
1	Is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
2	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	6	nsubj	_	_
3	maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
4	5	5	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	6	flat	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	6	6	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is a** | present | it | 5 6 |  |  |  | maybe *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Check both.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x3:2
# text = Check both.
1	Check	check	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
2	both	both	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	1	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
3	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	1	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **check** | imperative | you *not said here* | both |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent both=Theme |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe we could play tag after lunch.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x4:1
# text = Maybe we could play tag after lunch.
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
3	could	could	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
4	play	play	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	tag	tag	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	_
6	after	after	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	lunch	lunch	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **play** | could | we | tag |  |  | after lunch | maybe *property* | vn use-105.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent tag=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Can we get a puppy?" "Maybe, we'll see."

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 1:* "Can we get a puppy?" "

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x5:1
# text = "Can we get a puppy?" "
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	4	aux	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	4	nsubj	_	_
4	get	get	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
5	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
6	puppy	puppy	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	?	?	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	_
9	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	4	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **get** *in a quote* | can | we | a puppy |  |  |  |  | vn comprehend-87.2-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Experiencer puppy=Stimulus |

<!-- .note -->
*Sentence 2:* Maybe, we'll see."

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x5:2
# text = Maybe, we'll see."
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	1	punct	_	_
3	we	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'll	will	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	see	see	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **see** | future | we |  |  |  |  | maybe *property* | vn comprehend-87.2-1-1 «NP V»: agent=Experiencer |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe the plant needs more light, so let's test it.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x6:1
# text = Maybe the plant needs more light, so let's test it.
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	4	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	plant	plant	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj	_	_
4	needs	need	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
5	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	6	amod	_	_
6	light	light	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
8	so	so	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	_
9	let	let	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	's	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	9	obj	_	_
11	test	test	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	9	xcomp	_	_
12	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	11	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
13	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **need** | present | the plant | more light |  |  |  | maybe *property* | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP ADV»: agent=Pivot light=Theme |
| 2 | **let** | infinitive | the plant *not said here* | 's |  |  |  |  | tree rules |
| 3 | **test** | infinitive | 's *not said here* | light |  |  |  |  | vn assessment-34.1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent it=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Maybe the dragon was not asleep after all.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x7:1
# text = Maybe the dragon was not asleep after all.
1	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	6	advmod	_	_
2	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	3	det	_	_
3	dragon	dragon	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	nsubj	_	_
4	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	6	advmod	_	_
6	asleep	asleep	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	0	root	_	_
7	after	after	ADP	IN	_	8	case	_	_
8	all	all	DET	DT	PronType=Tot	6	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is** | past | the dragon |  |  |  | after all | asleep, maybe *property* | tree rules |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Her answer was a maybe, not a yes.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x8:1
# text = Her answer was a maybe, not a yes.
1	Her	her	PRON	PRP$	Case=Gen|Gender=Fem|Number=Sing|Person=3|Poss=Yes|PronType=Prs	2	nmod:poss	_	_
2	answer	answer	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	nsubj	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	9	cop	_	_
4	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
5	maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	9	advmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
7	not	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	9	advmod	_	_
8	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	9	det	_	_
9	yes	yes	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	9	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **is a** | past | Her answer | a yes |  |  |  | maybe *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **answer** |  | Her *= she* |  |  |  |  |  | nom answer «communication transitive»: poss=agent |

## Example 9 {#x9}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
"Maybe you'd win," said the bocough.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:maybe:x9:1
# text = "Maybe you'd win," said the bocough.
1	"	"	PUNCT	``	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	Maybe	maybe	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
3	you	you	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Person=2|PronType=Prs	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	'd	would	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	_
5	win	win	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	8	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
6	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	5	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	"	"	PUNCT	''	_	5	punct	_	_
8	said	say	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=1|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
9	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	10	det	_	_
10	bocough	bocough	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	8	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	8	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **win** *in a quote* | would | you |  |  |  |  | maybe *property* | vn succeed-74-2 «NP V»: agent=Agent |
| 2 | **say** *speech: assert* | past | the bocough |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
- ← previous: [mayan](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mayan/)
- next →: [mayday](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/mayday/)
- ↑ back to [M in school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/)