May be and Maybe.

[ProudToBeMuslim]

I know May be and Maybe is totally different words but what if anyone of you can expand it. 8)

 

[dduck]

I know May be and Maybe is totally different words but what if anyone of you can expand it. 8)

Maybe = perhaps.

He may be good looking, but he's not too bright = Although he's good looking, he's stupid.

Iain 8)

 

[RonBee]

They are used differently. For example, you can never use "may be" as an adverb.

"It may be" = "It could be" or "It might be" or "It's possible" or "It could possibly be"

"Maybe it is and maybe it isn't" = "It's possible"

"Maybe we will go to the zoo tomorrow" = "We might go to the zoo tomorrow"

"There may be rain tomorrow" = "It might rain tomorrow"

In no case can you exchange the one for the other.

 

[RonBee]

Here are some more examples of the use of "maybe" and "may be".

maybe:

• Maybe I am, and maybe I am not.
  Maybe tomorrow.
  Maybe tonight.
  Maybe later.
  Maybe not.
  Maybe Mike did it.
  Maybe this year will be better than the last.
  Maybe love is a hopeless crime.
  Maybe you'll be sorry.
  Maybe you'll be cold.
  Maybe you'll come running back, baby.
  And maybe they'd be happy for a while.
  I'll wake there in the morning or maybe in the county jail.
  Maybe I don't know that much.
  Maybe I should drop you at your door.
  Well, maybe I'm just too sure.
  Maybe I'm just too frightened.
  Well, maybe I'll call.
  Tried to tell you but you looked at me like maybe I'm an angel underneath.
  Maybe they're seeing, something we don't, Darlin'.
  Maybe it's better this way.
  And maybe I'm too good for you.
  There's room for maybe just one more.
  Don't you think maybe we can put it on credit?
  Maybe it's better that way.
  Maybe we make a deal.
  Maybe together we can get somewhere.
  Maybe we'll make something.
  Maybe yes, maybe no.
  Or maybe you just need to treat her better.
  
  Songs with "maybe" in them:
  http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~harel/cgi/page/searchlyr?q=maybe

It usually means possibly or could be. Sometimes, as in the last example, it's a suggestion.

may be:

• It may be that I am your father.
  Checks may be sent to: PanIP Group Defense Fund, Inc.
  McLawsuits' may be banned. Bill would bar suits against food companies for causing obesity; sedentary lifestyle called culprit.
  Dark matter may be undetectable. Super-WIMPs might hide ninety percent
  of the universe.
  Three Unixlike systems may be better than Linux SIMSON L.
  Hackers, Spammers May Be Punished as Terrorists
  If none of these options is possible, bankruptcy may be the likely alternative.
  Up to 15% of people suffer from occupational rhinitis and this number may be an underestimate because workers may not report symptoms for fear of repercussions.
  Scientists stunned to learn universe may be accelerating. ... But that might not be true," Riess said. "There may be an energy, a force, associated with a vacuum.".
  Spam agreement between US and EU may be on the way.
  Software idea may be just crazy enough to work.
  "...the decision to go further in the area of digital music -- first with a Windows version of the iPod and, by year's end, a Windows version of iTunes that will allow PC users to access the Music Store -- hints that a fundamental shift in Apple's strategy may be afoot."
  But if we want a lasting peace it may be the only option.
  SARS may be here to stay.
  It may be true.

Interestingly, sentences with "may be" in them tend to be more serious in tone than the "maybe" sentences.

 

[ProudToBeMuslim]

Maybe Mike did it.
Maybe this year will be better than the last.
Maybe love is a hopeless crime.
Maybe you'll be sorry.
Maybe you'll come running back, baby.
Tried to tell you but you looked at me like maybe I'm an angel underneath.
Maybe we make a deal.

What Mike did? :?:
May be!
hmm are you a crimnal? :evil:
If only I will do any mistake,I'll be sorry. 8)
You call me baby. :wink:
No I don't think you are angle.
we already made a deal,you have to correct my mistakes. :twisted:

 

[RonBee]

I got all of those on the first list from a site with song lyrics. Interestingly, "maybe" lends itself to creating song lyrics, but "may be" apparently does not.

I didn't call you baby, but I can if you want me to. :wink:

"Maybe Mike did it" is a song lyric I got from that website. (BTW, you might want to tell tdol how to spell site. :wink: -)

Were those examples helpful?

 

[RonBee]

I forgot I was supposed to correct your mistakes. :wink:

hmm are you a crimnal? :evil:

No, I am not a crimnal. I am not a criminal either. :evil:

If only I will do any mistake,I'll be sorry. 8)

There are lots of things we do, but a mistake is something we make. Try: "I'll be sorry if I make any mistakes."

You call me baby. :wink:

Well, you're somebody's baby, aren't you? :wink:

No I don't think you are angle.

But I do have lots of angles. :wink:

Say: "I don't think you are an angel?" (Why not? :wink: - )

There are a lot more maybes at that website. You might find it interesting to peruse it.

 

[RonBee]

 

[RonBee]

So, how are you doing?

 

[RonBee]

A: Are you going to tell me what I want to know?
B: Maybe I will and maybe I won't.

:wink:

 

[ProudToBeMuslim]

I didn't call you baby,

but I can if you want me to. :wink:

:wink:

"Maybe Mike did it" is a song lyric I got from that website.

Ooo Mike is very famous that there are lyrics on hom. :wink:

(BTW, you might want to tell tdol how to spell site. :wink: -)

He is not a good student so I want you to tell him how to spell site.

Were those examples helpful?

Yes they were.
I mean they are. :wink:

 

[Casiopea]

I know May be and Maybe is totally different words but what if anyone of you can expand it. 8)

I know may be and maybe are totally different words, but I wonder if any one of you can expand on it (i.e. the fact that they differ).

General rule of thumb

may be functions as verb.
It comes after the subject:

It may be time for dinner. (subject = It)

maybe functions as an adverb.
a) It comes at the beginning of a sentence:

Maybe it is time for dinner.

b) It comes at the end of a sentence:

It is time for dinner, maybe.

 

[RonBee]

I didn't call you baby,

but I can if you want me to. :wink:

:wink:

"Maybe Mike did it" is a song lyric I got from that website.

Ooo Mike is very famous that there are lyrics on hom. :wink:

(BTW, you might want to tell tdol how to spell site. :wink: -)

He is not a good student so I want you to tell him how to spell site.

Were those examples helpful?

Yes they were.
I mean they are. :wink:

Either one is fine.

Hey, it's good to hear from you again. It's a pleasant surprise.

 

[ProudToBeMuslim]

It is time for dinner, maybe.

Thanks for your help.
Yes it is tim for dinner in my country.

 

[ProudToBeMuslim]

I forgot I was supposed to correct your mistakes. :wink:

You should eat almonds.

No, I am not a crimnal. I am not a criminal either. :evil:

crimnal : Word not found.
criminal: Someone who has committed (or been legally convicted of) a crime

There are lots of things we do, but a mistake is something we make. Try: "I'll be sorry if I make any mistakes."

Thanks

Well, you're somebody's baby, aren't you? :wink:

Good point. :idea:

But I do have lots of angles. :wink:

Angel and Angle....

Say: "I don't think you are an angel?" (Why not? :wink: - )

Because I asked angles about this and they said you don't belong to them. :lol:

There are a lot more maybes at that website. You might find it interesting to peruse it.

I will try to read them when I will get time.
Hope you are fine and creating poetry.
Talk to you later

Hey, it's good to hear from you again. It's a pleasant surprise.

Thanks

 

[RonBee]

I know May be and Maybe is totally different words but what if anyone of you can expand it. 8)

I know may be and maybe are totally different words, but I wonder if any one of you can expand on it (i.e. the fact that they differ).

General rule of thumb

may be functions as verb.
It comes after the subject:

It may be time for dinner. (subject = It)

maybe functions as an adverb.
a) It comes at the beginning of a sentence:

Maybe it is time for dinner.

b) It comes at the end of a sentence:

It is time for dinner, maybe.

I am definitely getting hungry. No maybes about it.

:wink:

 

[RonBee]

Did you mention poetry? :wink:

If you get the time you might like to read some of the stuff in the Poetry and Writing and Songs folder, including this:

Brief Verse (Couplets)
https://www.usingenglish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1579

Feel free to post one of your favorite poems.

Later.