Meaning
〜かもしれません expresses possibility or likelihood without confirming whether something will definitely happen. It's used to soften statements and avoid making definite claims, similar to saying 'might' or 'may' in English. The casual form is かもしれない, and in informal speech it can be shortened to simply かも.
Formation
| Part of speech | Formation |
|---|---|
| 動詞普通形 | 動詞普通形 かもしれません |
| い形容詞 | い形容詞 かもしれません |
| な形容詞 | な形容詞 かもしれません |
| 名詞 | 名詞 かもしれません |
Examples
-
来年 私の 会社は インドで 工場を 作るかも しれません。
Next year, my company might build a factory in India. -
電車に 間に合わないかも しれません。
I might not make it in time for the train. -
これは 山田さんの 本かも しれません。
This might be Yamada's book.
Summary
- Expresses possibility or uncertainty without definite assertion
- Works with verbs, i-adjectives, na-adjectives, and nouns in their plain forms
- Casual form is かもしれない; informal speech uses かも as shorthand