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文法 · JLPT N4 grammar
〜かもしれない
kamoshirenai · might ~, maybe ~
〜かもしれない means might, about fifty-fifty: 明日は雨かもしれない, it might rain tomorrow. Casually it shortens to 〜かも.
How to form it
| Verb / い-adj (plain) + かもしれない | 来るかもしれない |
| Noun / な-adj + かもしれない | 病気かもしれない |
How it is used
It is less certain than でしょう. The polite form is かもしれません.
Nouns and な-adjectives attach directly, with no だ: 「雨かもしれない」.
Examples
Tap a kanji for its reading.
- 明日は雨が降るかもしれません。It might rain tomorrow.
- 田中さんはもう帰ったかもしれません。Tanaka may have gone home already.
- この答えは間違いかもしれません。This answer might be wrong.
- 遅れるかも。I might be late.
Practice: 4 JLPT questions using 〜かもしれない
男の 人は どの せきに しますか。
W: There's a seat by the window and a seat near the entrance free.
M: Isn't it cold by the window?
W: It may be a little cold.
M: Then I'll take the one by the entrance.
Q: Which seat does the man choose? — The seat near the entrance.
あしたは ＿＿ ＿＿ ★ ＿＿ かも しれません。
The weather is bad tomorrow, so the match might be cancelled.
電気がついている。だれか部屋にいる（ ）。
The light is on. Someone must be in the room.
女の 人は 何を 買いますか。
M: What should I bring back as a souvenir from the business trip?
W: Everyone brings sweets, so I think something different would be good.
M: How about local tea?
W: Nice. But it's heavy, so maybe a handkerchief would be better.
M: True, let's go with that.
Q: What does the woman (decide to) buy? — A handkerchief.