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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Possibly/perhaps/maybe
Hi,
Can I put 'possibly' at the beginning of a sentence like this:
If you had studied hard, possibly, you would have passed the exam.
Can I use 'maybe', 'perhaps' or 'might' instead of 'possibly' here? Do they all mean the same? For example:
If you had studied hard, maybe you would have passed the exam.
If you had studied hard, perhaps you would have passed the exam.
If you had studied hard, you might have passed the exam.
Thank you very much.
Can I put 'possibly' at the beginning of a sentence like this:
If you had studied hard, possibly, you would have passed the exam.
Can I use 'maybe', 'perhaps' or 'might' instead of 'possibly' here? Do they all mean the same? For example:
If you had studied hard, maybe you would have passed the exam.
If you had studied hard, perhaps you would have passed the exam.
If you had studied hard, you might have passed the exam.
Thank you very much.
Top answer
Yes.
- Yes.
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19 Answers
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Hi,
Is there any subtle difference among maybe, possibly, might and perhaps in meaning in the sentences above?
Thanks a lot.
Is there any subtle difference among maybe, possibly, might and perhaps in meaning in the sentences above?
Thanks a lot.
00
Yes, and yes.
As a champion of the subtle difference, I have to say, "Not much."
I'd say that with "maybe," "possibly," and "perhaps," the element of chance still seems to be in play.
With "might," I think we push it more toward "If you had studied hard enough, you could have passed the exam." (in that direction)
As a champion of the subtle difference, I have to say, "Not much."
I'd say that with "maybe," "possibly," and "perhaps," the element of chance still seems to be in play.
With "might," I think we push it more toward "If you had studied hard enough, you could have passed the exam." (in that direction)
00
Hi,
If you had studied hard, possibly, you would have passed the exam.
Whichever of the three words I used, I wouldn't put a comma after it. It's really an inherent part of the clause that follows.
Note, however, that you could put it right at the front of the entire sentence if you wanted to.
eg Possibly, if you had studied hard, you would have passed the exam.
If you had studied hard, possibly, you would have passed the exam.
Whichever of the three words I used, I wouldn't put a comma after it. It's really an inherent part of the clause that follows.
Note, however, that you could put it right at the front of the entire sentence if you wanted to.
eg Possibly, if you had studied hard, you would have passed the exam.
00
Hi Avangi and Clive,
Thank you both for your correction and answers. However, I don't understand what they mean in Avangi's post as follows:
Thank you both for your correction and answers. However, I don't understand what they mean in Avangi's post as follows:
AvangiAs a champion of the subtle difference, I have to say, "Not much."
What does "As a champion of the subtle difference..." mean?
I'd say that with "maybe," "possibly," and "perhaps," the element of chance s
00
I've gotta quit sayin' things like that!
There are people in favor of X and people opposed to X. If you're a very strong supporter of X you may be called a champion of X. Whenever X is in trouble, you come to the rescue of X. Some people feel subtle differences are not worth the trouble of worrying about, but I love to ferret them out. What I meant to say in this particular case was
There are people in favor of X and people opposed to X. If you're a very strong supporter of X you may be called a champion of X. Whenever X is in trouble, you come to the rescue of X. Some people feel subtle differences are not worth the trouble of worrying about, but I love to ferret them out. What I meant to say in this particular case was
00
Hi Avangi,
Thank you ver much for your clear explanation.
What do you mean by 'but not completely that way'?
What is the difference among 'may', 'might' 'probably' and 'likely'?
If you study harder, probably you will pass the exam.
If you study harder, you may pass the exam.
If you study harder, you might pass the exam.
If you study harder,
Thank you ver much for your clear explanation.
What do you mean by 'but not completely that way'?
What is the difference among 'may', 'might' 'probably' and 'likely'?
If you study harder, probably you will pass the exam.
If you study harder, you may pass the exam.
If you study harder, you might pass the exam.
If you study harder,
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AnonymousWhat do you mean by 'but not completely that way'?On a scale of one to ten, how do maybe, possibly, perhaps, and might describe the likelihood that if you had studied harder you would have passed the exam? "One" indicates that you definitely would have failed, and "ten" indicates that you definitely would have passed.
(reply
00
Hi,
Back to maybe-perhaps-possibly, I was taught that there's no big difference, register aside (informal-neutral-formal), and this page from the BBC Learning English agrees with my old teacher.
(Was it off topic? Sorry if it was!)
Back to maybe-perhaps-possibly, I was taught that there's no big difference, register aside (informal-neutral-formal), and this page from the BBC Learning English agrees with my old teacher.
(Was it off topic? Sorry if it was!)
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