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With the expression でしょう
- deshoo,
we can say a given state of affairs is probable or
likely.
The new sentence-final expression かもしれません
- kamo shiremasen,
and its short form counterpart
かもしれない - kamo shirenai,
are much like でしょう, and mean that something is a "possibility" |
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かもしれません -
kamo shiremasen is placed after the short
forms of predicates, in the affirmative and in the negative,
in the present as well as the past tense. |
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あしたは雨が降るかもしれません。 |
It may rain tomorrow |
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ashita-wa, ame-ga furu kamo-shiremasen. |
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田中さんより、
鈴木さんのほうが
背が高いかもしれません。 |
Suzuki is perhaps taller than Tanaka |
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tanaka-san yori,
suzuki-san no hoo-ga
sega takai kamo-shiremasen. |
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あしたは天気がよくない
かもしれません。 |
The weather may not be good tomorrow. |
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ashita-wa tenki-ga yoku-nai
kamo-shiremasen. |
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トムさんは、子供の時、
いじわるだった
かもしれません。 |
Tom may have been a bully when he was a kid. |
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tomu-san-wa kodomo-no toki,
ijiwaru datta
kamo-shiremasen. |
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Just like deshoo, kamo-shiremasen
goes directly after a noun or a na-adjective in the
present tense affirmative sentences.
In other words, da is dropped in these sentences. |
トムさんはカナダ人だ。
トムさんはカナダ人かもしれません。 |
Tom is a Canadian.
Tom might be a Canadian. |
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tomu-san-wa kanada-jin da.
tomu-san-wa kanada-jin kamo-shiremasen. |
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山下先生は犬がきらいだ。
山下先生は犬がきらいかもしれません。 |
Professor Yamashita is not fond of dogs.
It is possible that Professor Yamashita is not fond of dogs. |
yamashita-sensei-wa, inu-ga kirai da.
yamashita-sensei-wa, inu-ga kirai kamo-shiremasen. |
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Form:
Present tense, affirmative: |
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行くかもしれません |
Verbs: |
| 寒いかもしれません |
い-adjectives: |
| 元気(な)かもしれません |
な-adjectives: |
| 先生かもしれません |
noun+です: |