Lesson 108 of 126

The lesson

11.3 Maybe / I wonder

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Overview

This lesson covers three patterns for expressing uncertainty: ～かもしれない for stating a possibility, ～かな(あ) for thinking aloud or wondering, and ～んじゃないかと思う for tentative conclusions based on some reasoning.

～かもしれない — “might / maybe”

～かもしれない is used to express possibility. The speaker thinks something is possible, but is not confident.

Structure:

Verb (plain) + かもしれない
い-adjective + かもしれない
な-adjective + かもしれない
Noun + かもしれない

。

It might rain.

。

He might not come.

。

This problem might be difficult.

。

This shop might be quiet.

。

He might not be well.

。

Today might not be convenient.

。

He might be a student.

。

Tomorrow might be a day off.

。

That person might be a teacher.

In more casual situations, you can also use just ～かも.

～かな（あ） — “I wonder…”

～かな (or ～かなあ) is used when thinking out loud. It often sounds like an internal question or mild doubt.

Structure:

Verb (plain) + かな
い-adjective + かな
な-adjective + かな
Noun + かな

。

I wonder if he’s already come.

。

I wonder if today will be quiet. _I wonder if I'm free today._

、。

I wonder if this shop is okay.

。

I wonder if he’s doing well.

、。

I wonder if this plan is safe.

、。

I wonder if that person is kind.

。

I wonder if today is a day off.

。

I wonder if it’s my turn next.

。

I wonder if this is the entrance.

～んじゃないかと思う — “I think maybe / I feel like…”

～んじゃないかと思う expresses a tentative conclusion. The speaker has some reasoning, but still wants to sound careful or non-assertive.

Verb (plain) + んじゃないかと思う
い-adjective + んじゃないかと思う
な-adjective + なんじゃないかと思う
Noun + なんじゃないかと思う

。

I think he might already be asleep.

。

I think this road might be dangerous.

。

I think that might be a misunderstanding.

Summary

Expression	Certainty	Tone	Typical use
～かもしれない	Low	Neutral	Simple possibility
～かな（あ）	Very low	Casual	Thinking aloud
～んじゃないかと思う	Low–medium	Careful	Tentative conclusion

Dialogue

あす明日はあめがふる雨が降るかもしれません。かれ彼はこない来ないかもしれないから、さきに先にはじめましょう始めましょう。このもんだい問題はむずかしい難しいかもしれない。でんしゃ電車がおくれている遅れているかもしれないので、はやめに早めにしゅっぱつ出発します。かれ彼はわたくし私のことをわすれた忘れたかもしれない。きょう今日はじかん時間があるかなあ。かれ彼はもういえ家にかえった帰ったかな。このみち道であっている合っているかなあ。つぎ次はわたくし私のばん番かな、ちょっときんちょう緊張します。しけん試験はあす明日だったかな、もういちど一度かくにん確認します。かれ彼はもうねている寝ているんじゃないかとおもいます思います。このけいかく計画にはもんだい問題があるんじゃないかとおもう思う。

It might rain tomorrow. He might not come, so let's start first. This problem might be difficult. The train might be delayed, so I'll leave early. He might have forgotten about me. I wonder if I'll have time today. I wonder if he's already gone home. I wonder if this is the right road. I wonder if it's my turn next — I'm a little nervous. I wonder if the exam was tomorrow — I'll check again. I think he might already be asleep. I think there might be a problem with this plan.

11.2 Hearsay and Rumor

11.4 ～らしい — Apparently

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