JLPT N4 Grammar
· Elementary
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· Elementary
might; perhaps
Category: Appearance & Conjecture
The grammar pattern "Plain Form / N / Adj + かもしれない" is used to express a possibility that something might happen or be true. The probability is lower than 'deshou' (around 50% or less). This pattern is often used in casual speech and is sometimes shortened to 'kamo'. It is essential to understand that this pattern follows the plain form of the verb, which can be a challenge for learners. The nuance of this pattern is that it implies a lower degree of certainty compared to 'deshou', making it suitable for situations where the outcome is less predictable.
| Form | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Plain Form | Verb (plain form) + かもしれない | 見る (miru) + かもしれない (kamoshirenai) = 見るかもしれない |
| Noun | Noun + かもしれない | 友達 (tomodachi) + かもしれない (kamoshirenai) = 友達かもしれない |
| Na-Adjective | Na-Adjective + かもしれない | 大きい (ookii) + かもしれない (kamoshirenai) = 大きいかもしれない |
道が混んでいるので、約束の時間に来るかもしれません。
Michi ga konben shite imasu node, yakusoku no jikan ni kuru kamoshirenai desu.
The road might be crowded, so he might be late.
道が混んでいるので (The road is crowded, so) + 約束の時間に来るかもしれません (he might be late)
彼は今日は来るかもしれません。
Kare wa kyou wa kuru kamoshirenai desu.
He might come today.
彼は今日は (He today) + 来るかもしれません (might come)
明日は雨かもしれませんから、傘を持っていきましょう。
Ashita wa ame kamoshirenai kara, kasa o motte ikimashou.
It might rain tomorrow, so let's bring an umbrella.
明日は雨かもしれません (It might rain tomorrow) + から (from) + 傘を持っていきましょう (let's bring an umbrella)
This pattern is used to express a possibility that something might happen or be true. It is often used in casual speech and is suitable for situations where the outcome is less predictable. It is essential to use the plain form of the verb and to understand the nuance of the pattern, which implies a lower degree of certainty compared to 'deshou'.
This is a common mistake for learners, as they may forget to use the plain form of the verb.
This pattern implies a lower degree of certainty compared to 'deshou', so it is essential to use 'kamoshirenai' for a more accurate expression.
This is an incorrect usage of the pattern, as 'da' is not used after nouns or na-adjectives in this context.
When using this pattern in the JLPT exam, make sure to use the plain form of the verb and to understand the nuance of the pattern. It is also essential to be able to distinguish between 'kamoshirenai' and 'deshou', as they have different degrees of certainty.
道が混んでいるので、約束の時間に______かもしれません。
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