VOA慢速英语--Maybe and May Be Are 'Driving Me Crazy'

 

Hello and welcome to Ask a Teacher! In today’s program, we compare two things that sound and look the same but are used a little differently. Listen to our reader’s request:

Question:

I want to know the uses of “maybe” and “may be.” These two words really drive me crazy. -[Name not provided]

Answer:

Hi and thanks for writing to us! Maybe the words drive you crazy but I may be the right person to help.

We use both “maybe” and “may be” to talk about possibility. The main difference is that they are different parts of speech.

Maybe

As one word, “maybe” is an adverb – a word that describes a verb, an adjective¹, another adverb or a sentence. As an adverb, “maybe” has the same meaning as “possibly.”

We use it to talk about a future possible action or happening:

Maybe I’ll go for a swim tomorrow morning.

We also use it to say that something is possibly correct or true:

There are maybe three more people coming.

We can also use it to respond to a request or suggestion:

Do you want to go for a swim tomorrow?

Maybe. I have to check my plans, thanks.

May be

Now let’s talk about “may be” – which is two words. As separate words, “may be” acts as a verb phrase and means “might be” or “could be.”

For this usage², the word “may” is a modal verb. And “be” can act as either a main verb or part of a continuous³ verb tense.

Here it is with “be” as the main verb:

There may be another chance to take the exam.

“May be” is also sometimes used to make a polite suggestion, as in the next example. The verb “be” here acts as the main verb:

It may be a good idea to start saving⁴ money.

Next is an example with “be” as part of the present continuous (or be + -ing) verb tense:

We may be coming to your place later today.

And that’s Ask a Teacher.

I’m Alice Bryant.

Words in This Story

part of speech – n. a class of words (such as adjectives⁵, adverbs, nouns⁶, verbs, etc.) that are identified by the kinds of ideas they express and the way they work in a sentence

phrase – n. a group of two or more words that express a single idea but do not usually form a complete sentence

modal verb – n. a verb (such as can, could, may and might) that is used with another verb to express possibility, necessity⁷ or permission

tense – n. a form of a verb that is used to show when an action happened

polite – adj. having or showing good manners or respect for other people

1 adjective   

n.形容词；adj.形容词的，用作形容词的

参考例句：

• Don't apply that adjective to me.不要用那个字眼来形容我。
• The adjective loose has several senses. 形容词loose有几个义项。

2 usage   

n.惯用法，使用，用法

参考例句：

• I am clear about the usage of this word at last.这个词的用法我算是弄明白了。
• The usage is now firmly established.这种用法现已得到确认。

3 continuous   

adj.继续的，连续的，持续的，延伸的

参考例句：

• She finally got in after 10 years'continuous effort.坚持不懈地努力了十年后，她终于当选了。
• We must be continuous to study.我们必须不断学习。

4 saving   

n.节省，节约；[pl.]储蓄金，存款

参考例句：

• Energy saving is term strategic policy of our country.节约能源是我国长期的战略国策。
• Old-fashioned housewives were usually very saving.旧时的家庭主妇通常都很节俭。

5 adjectives   

n.形容词( adjective的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• We can form nouns from adjectives. 我们可以用形容词来构成名词。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Attributive adjectives precede the noun. 定语形容词位于名词前。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 nouns   

n.名词；名词( noun的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• French differs from English in having gender for all nouns. 法语不同于英语，所有的名词都有性。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Nouns join to form compounds. 名词和名词结合构成复合词。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 necessity   

n.必要性，需要；必需品

参考例句：

• I look upon this as an absolute necessity.我认为这是绝对必要的。
• You must understand the necessity of education.你必须懂得教育的必要性。