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Might A; maybe A; perhaps A
Join for free or Login to study this and other grammar in the lesson Sentence Endings III!
あっ ！ もしかして 間ま違ちがえ た かもしれない 。 
Uh..I might have made a mistake.
好
9点
うう 、 吐 き そう 。 妊 娠 している かも 知 れ な い 。 
Oh, I feel like throwing up. I think I might be pregnant.
好
8点
明日 は 雨 かもしれない 。 
It may rain tomorrow.
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6点
彼 女 は 来 な い かもしれない 。 
She may not come.
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7点
彼 は 幸 せ ではない かもしれない 。 
He may not be happy.
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9点
彼 は そう 言 っ た かもしれない 。 
He may have said so.
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9点
それ は 本 当 かもしれない 。 
It may be true.

Getting the sentences
Construction
(Elements in parentheses are optional.)
もしかすると/もしかしたら AVerb: Casual
 
もしかすると/もしかしたら Aい adjective
 
もしかすると/もしかしたら Aな adjective
 
もしかすると/もしかしたら ANoun
 
 
かもしれない
Basic Examples:
言うかも知れない (maybe (I'll) say (it))

寒いかも知れない (might be cold)

安全かも知れない (maybe safe)

雪かも知れない (perhaps snow)

Where this grammar is found
Genki II (2nd Edition): Chapter 14
Nihongo So-Matome N3 (日本語総まとめ）: 第５週　５日目
Nihongo So-Matome N4 (日本語総まとめ): 第４週　２日目
新完全マスター文法 N4: 第１部　１２課
JLPT N4 / Intermediate: Sentence Endings ③


User notes
好
0点

In casual speech, there are a few possible contractions for かもしれない:
— かも
— かもしんない
— かもしれん (more masculine, maybe a bit rough)
3 years ago
avatar guest
好
9点

This pattern is commonly used when you're not really sure - so if you think about a level of surety, think of 「に違いない」or「絶対」at the top (definitely),「でしょう」/「だろう」afterward (probably), and then 「かも知れない」,「多分」,「かしら」and「かな」(maybe) afterward.
12 years ago
avatar mysticfive - Level 959
好
12点

In casual speech, かも知れない is often shortened to just かも.

Example:

明日行くかも。 (行くかも → 行くかも知れない)
13 years ago
avatar 宮本勝利 - Level 1

Discussion about this grammar
avatar
mireille
Years Studied: 3
Studying: JLPT N3 & JLPT 2級
Level: 1, 好 : 99
This needs to be confirmed by someone who has more knowledge about grammar that I do, but from what I’ve read so far is that in past tense the construction for nouns are (Noun + だったかもしれない) and for Na-adjectives it’s (na-adjective + なのかもしれない)

退屈なのかもしれない & 病気だったかもしれない

Or am I misunderstanding things?
好
0点
13 years ago
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 123, 好 : 6,928
In past tense form, it's だった for both Nouns and na-adjectives.
好
1点
13 years ago
avatar
mireille
Years Studied: 3
Studying: JLPT N3 & JLPT 2級
Level: 1, 好 : 99
Right, got it.

I saw a sentence like 彼は病気なのかもしれない。so that confused me at one point.
Now I see that 病気なの actually function as a noun. So it makes sense now.
好
1点
13 years ago
まさむね123
Years Studied: Since Nov 2018
Studying: JLPT N3
Level: 1, 好 : 17
avatar
マイコー
Site admin
 Level: 123, 好 : 6,928
Thanks, added it in.
好
0点
3 years ago



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