This lesson covers two independent patterns: かもしれません (maybe) and 前に (before doing). Both are simple but show up constantly in daily conversation and exams.
かもしれません: Maybe... / Might...
Sentence (plain form) + かもしれません → Maybe... / Might...
かもしれません expresses the speaker's uncertainty — "there's a possibility, but I'm not sure." It's equivalent to "maybe," "perhaps," or "might" in English.
How to Connect
| Word Type | Connection | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Verb (dictionary form) | + かもしれません | 雨が降るかもしれません。 |
| i-adjective | + かもしれません | 高いかもしれません。 |
| na-adjective | drop な + かもしれません | 静かかもしれません。 |
| Noun | + かもしれません | 日本人かもしれません。 |
At the N5 level, just remember: add かもしれません directly to whatever comes before it (drop な for na-adjectives, nouns connect directly).
Examples
社長は明日出席するかもしれません。 → The president might attend tomorrow. 明日は雨かもしれません。 → It might rain tomorrow. この料理は辛いかもしれません。 → This dish might be spicy. 彼は日本人かもしれません。 → He might be Japanese.
Level of Certainty
かもしれません indicates roughly 30%–50% certainty — you think it's possible but aren't confident. If you're fairly sure, you'd use a different expression.
| Certainty | Expression |
|---|---|
| Almost certain | 〜でしょう |
| Maybe, perhaps | 〜かもしれません |
前に: Before Doing...
Verb dictionary form + 前に → Before doing...
前に means "before doing something." The key rule: the verb before 前に is always in its dictionary form, regardless of the tense of the main clause.
Examples
寝る前に歯を磨きます。 → I brush my teeth before going to bed. 行く前に電話で確認してください。 → Please confirm by phone before going. 食べる前に手を洗います。 → I wash my hands before eating. 日本に行く前に日本語を勉強しました。 → I studied Japanese before going to Japan.
Notice the last sentence: even though the main clause is past tense (勉強しました), the verb before 前に stays in dictionary form (行く), not past tense. This is a fixed rule for 前に.
Noun + の前に
When a noun comes before 前に, add の:
Noun + の前に
| Example | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 試験の前に復習しました。 | I reviewed before the exam. |
| 食事の前に手を洗ってください。 | Please wash your hands before the meal. |
| 会議の前にコーヒーを飲みます。 | I drink coffee before meetings. |
Summary
- かもしれません: add to the end of a sentence to mean "maybe/might" (about 30%–50% certainty)
- 前に: verb dictionary form + 前に = before doing... (verb before 前に is always dictionary form)
- Nouns use の前に: 試験の前に
- These are two independent patterns that can both appear in the same sentence
Practice Questions
Q1. How do you say "It might snow tomorrow" in Japanese?
Show Answer
明日は雪が降るかもしれません。
降る (to fall) + かもしれません. Verb stays in dictionary form.
Q2. What does 「食べる前に手を洗ってください」 mean?
Show Answer
Please wash your hands before eating.
食べる前に (before eating) + 手を洗ってください (please wash your hands).
Q3. Translate "Please call before you go" into Japanese.
Show Answer
行く前に電話してください。
行く (to go) + 前に (before) + 電話してください (please call). The verb before 前に stays in dictionary form.