~かもしれない
〜kamoshirenai
JLPT N4 Neutral
Formation
Verb-casual + かもしれない, い-Adjective + かもしれない, な-Adjective + だかもしれない, Noun + だかもしれない
Express uncertainty; 'maybe', 'might', 'possibly'.
When to use
The everyday hedge for possibility - "maybe/might".
Explanation
The ~かもしれない grammar point is used to express uncertainty or the possibility of something occurring. It can be translated as 'maybe', 'might', or 'possibly' in English. The formation differs depending on whether it is used with a verb, い-adjective, な-adjective, or noun. In everyday speech, speakers often omit だ before かもしれない for nouns and な-adjectives.
Example sentences
Inference (It Seems / Probably)
- ~だろう〜darouN4Express probability, likelihood or certainty; 'probably'…
- ~ようだ〜you daN4Expresses appearance, similarity or inference; 'it seems'…
- ~らしい〜rashiiN3Expresses hearsay; 'I heard', 'it seems', 'apparently'.
- ~ということだ〜to iu koto daN3Express a conclusion or hearsay; 'I heard', 'it means'…
- ~んだって〜n datteN3Conveys information heard from someone else; 'I heard'…
- もしかすると〜かもしれないmoshikasuru to 〜kamoshirenaiN3Express the possibility of something; 'maybe', 'perhaps'…
- ~とのことだ〜to no koto daN1Expresses something that the speaker heard; 'I've heard…
- ~とみえて〜to mieteN1It seems that; apparently
- ~まい〜maiN2Express a negative conjecture or determination; 'probably…
- ~そうだ〜sou daN4Express the appearance, seeming, or feeling of something…
- ~に決まっている〜ni kimatte iruN2Express certainty; 'it is obvious', 'it must be', 'no…
Corpus examples (60)
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They might be taller than you.
あなたがおいでになることを公にするのは賢明ではないかもしれない。
It may be unwise of you to advertise your presence.
トムは離婚するかもしれないな。
Tom may get divorced.
トムは歌いたくないかもしれないな。
Tom may not want to sing.
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Somebody might've overheard your conversation with Tom.
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This story may sound strange, but it's absolutely true.
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You may think that animals can sleep in any position.
日本の安倍晋三首相は、2020年夏季東京オリンピックを延期せざるを得ないかもしれないと発言した。
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games may have to be postponed.
私の頭が古いと言われるかもしれないが、結婚前に男女の関係を持つべきではないと思う。
People might say I'm old-fashioned, but I think that one shouldn't have sexual relationships before marriage.
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He gave up trying, when he might have succeeded.
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He might have said something about it, but I don't remember.
昔は、母親たちが自分の息子に対して、自慰行為をすると目が見えなくなるかもしれないぞ、と言った。
Mothers used to tell their sons that if they masturbated they would go blind.
トムが言うにはね、クリスマスのために顎ひげを赤と緑に染めるかもしれないんだって。
Tom says he might dye his goatee red and green for Christmas.
このようなやり方で進むことは私にとって都合がよいかもしれない。
It may be advantageous to me to proceed in this way.
あつしは病気だったかもしれない。
Atsushi may have been sick.
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It might not freeze tonight.
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It may sound like blowing my own horn, but I can speak French.
二度と歩けないかもしれない。
I may never be able to walk again.
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Granted his cleverness, he may still be mistaken.
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I may have left my umbrella in the bus.
アメリカ合衆国では誰もが大統領になれると言う。しかし実のところ事実ではないかもしれない。
They say that in America anyone can become president, but perhaps that's not really true.
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It may rain soon.
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I thought Tom might do that.
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The chances are that he has not heard the news yet.
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She may have said so.