Maybe is an adverb. It can be used in the following ways.
Maybe can modify an entire sentence.
- Maybe she will come.
- Maybe we will win.
- Maybe you should leave her alone.
Maybe can be used before a number.
- There were maybe 100 people at the meeting.
Maybe is used when you are not sure whether something is true or whether something will happen.
- Maybe she will come.
- Maybe it will rain tonight.
- Maybe Amelie was right when she said that I needed to mend my ways.
- ‘When will you finish the work?’ ‘I don’t know. Maybe tomorrow.’
Maybe is used when you are guessing a number.
- It may cost maybe 200 dollars.
- The whole process will take maybe 15 minutes.
Maybe can be used to make a suggestion.
- Maybe you should get another job.
Maybe and may be
The adverb maybe is often confused with the verb may be.
Maybe means the same as perhaps.
- Maybe you are right. OR Perhaps you are right.
May be is the equivalent of ‘could be’.
- There may be a strike next week. (NOT There maybe a strike next week.)
- She may be unhappy with the developments. (NOT She maybe unhappy with the developments.)
- There were maybe fifteen people at the meeting. (NOT There were may be fifteen people at the meeting.)
- She is maybe fifty. (NOT She is may be fifty.)
Note that maybe is preferred in an informal style. In a more formal style, we use perhaps.