We usemaybeandmay beto talk about possibility. They are often confused because we use them both when we think that something is possible but we are not certain.
Maybeas an adverb
Maybe/ˈmeɪbi/ is an adverb and it means the same asperhaps. It is written as one word:
Maybeno one will come to the party.
Not:May be no one will come to the party.
In speaking, we sometimes usemaybeat the end of what we say when we are making a suggestion which we are not very certain about:
A:There’s something wrong with my PC. I can’t load my photos.
B:It could be a virus,maybe.
In speaking, we can usemaybeas a response when we agree that something is possible:
A:Ronnie and Linda are going to leave New Zealand in January.
B:Why? I thought they were very happy there.
A:I’m not sure. Perhaps they feel a bit lonely.
B:Maybe.
We can also usemaybeto express uncertainty in response to a suggestion:
A:Would you like to have chicken curry for dinner?
B:Maybe.
A:You don’t sound very enthusiastic.
B:I just can’t think about dinner right now. I’ve just had breakfast.
May be
In the phrasemay be/meɪ bi:/mayis a modal verb andbeis a main or auxiliary verb. Heremayandbeare two separate words, whereasmaybeis one word:
Theremay bea train at 10.00am.
Not:There maybe a train at 10.00am.
Hemay bewaiting for us.
See also:
May
Typical error
We usemayas a modal verb in the phrasemay be. They are two separate words. We usemaybeas an adverb:
Thismay bethe last match that he plays for Barcelona.
Not:This maybe the last match that he plays for Barcelona.