Master confusing words with ease
May be vs. Maybe
May be
/meɪ biː/Examples:
Considering the weather, it may be better to stay home.It may be time to rethink the company's strategy.There may be more guests arriving later tonight.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Maybe
/ˈmeɪbi/Examples:
Maybe you'll find someone else after you bury her."Maybe, you don't feel that I love you.'Maybe the Yankees are not there yet.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Maybe is a single word used as an adverb meaning perhaps or possibly.
- May be is a verb phrase that comes from may and be, indicating a possibility or permission.
- Use maybe when you can replace it with perhaps or possibly.
- May be can often be expanded into might be or could be and still make sense.
- Think of may be as being more formal or exact than maybe.
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