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# maybe

«maybe» in Mova's school dictionary: **perhaps: it might be true or might not, and you are not sure** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adverb (maybe); noun (a maybe, maybes — informal)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Maybe means perhaps: it might be true or might not, and you are not sure. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#m1)

2) Maybe makes a polite suggestion or a soft answer: «Maybe we could share.» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#m2)

3) As a noun, a maybe is an answer that is neither yes nor no. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#m3)

### sense in the lessons

a word of the story only; sometimes it introduces a guess to check (guess and check in maths), not a given fact; in science it marks an idea still to be tested; in everyday life it softens a request or a reply; in stories it shows a character is not sure; phrases «maybe not», «maybe later», «maybe so»

### examples

- Maybe he has 20 marbles. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x1)
- Maybe it will rain, so take your umbrella. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x2)
- Is it maybe 5 or 6? Check both. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x3)
- Maybe we could play tag after lunch. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x4)
- "Can we get a puppy?" "Maybe, we'll see." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x5)
- Maybe the plant needs more light, so let's test it. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x6)
- Maybe the dragon was not asleep after all. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x7)
- Her answer was a maybe, not a yes. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x8)
- "Maybe you'd win," said the bocough. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/#x9)

### note

No clue; a guess is not a given fact. One word «maybe» (adverb, = perhaps) versus two words «may be» (verb): «Maybe it is late» = «It may be late». Trap: do not use a «maybe» sentence as true data in a problem; a «maybe» from a grown-up is not a yes.

### In the corpora

- [Saying thank you, and maybe writing a card, shows you value a person's kindness.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/102-gratitude-helping-at-home-privacy/4/)
- [To introduce yourself, you say your name and maybe one or two things about you.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/125-greetings-and-introductions/7/)
- [When you receive a gift, you say thank you and maybe write a card, to show you value the giver's kindness.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/215-speaking-up-saying-no-and-growing-up/14/)
- [Jasmine blamed the last cookie on her sister, then the dog, then «maybe it just fell».](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/431-when-the-story-falls-apart/7/)
- [Maybe in the summer.» It's fine to ask the people you love for clear answers.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/453-lied-to-by-someone-you-love/38/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «maybe» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/M/maybe/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.