AdverbsHSK 4
Expressing "perhaps" with 也许
也许 is an adverb meaning 'perhaps' or 'maybe,' used to express a guess or possibility that the speaker is not sure about.
It usually appears before the subject or before the verb phrase to modify the whole clause.
Structure
也许 + (Subject +) Verb
Most common placement; 也许 comes at the start of the clause.
Subject + 也许 + Verb
Less common; places the focus on the subject while still expressing uncertainty.
Examples
- 明天也许会下雨。Míng tiān yě xǔ huì xià yǔ.It may rain tomorrow.
- 他现在也许在家里。Tā xiàn zài yě xǔ zài jiā lǐ.He is perhaps at home now.
- 也许她不喜欢吃苹果。Yě xǔ tā bù xǐ huan chī píng guǒ.Maybe she doesn't like eating apples.
- 这道题很难,也许我需要再想想。Zhè dào tí hěn nán, yě xǔ wǒ xū yào zài xiǎng xiǎng.This question is difficult; maybe I need to think again.
- 我们也许下个月去北京旅行。Wǒ men yě xǔ xià ge yuè qù běi jīng lǚ xíng.We might travel to Beijing next month.