〜かもしれない — Japanese Grammar
〜かもしれない: JLPT N4 grammar pattern. Usage, structure, examples, and comparison with similar patterns.
〜かもしれない
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Pattern | 〜かもしれない |
| JLPT Level | N4 |
| Type | probability |
| Formality | Neutral (can be made polite with です) |
| Register | Both spoken and written |
Meaning
The pattern 〜かもしれない (kamoshirenai) expresses a subjective possibility or a guess. It translates to "might," "may," or "it is possible that." It indicates that the speaker is not certain about the outcome or situation but acknowledges it as a potential reality.
Structure Formula
[Verb / い-adjective] (plain form) + かもしれない
[な-adjective / Noun] (drop だ) + かもしれない
- Verbs: Use the dictionary form (present/future) or the past tense (た-form).
- い-Adjectives: Keep the final い (e.g., 寒いかもしれない).
- な-Adjectives: Remove the な/だ (e.g., 静かかもしれない).
- Nouns: Simply attach directly (e.g., 雨かもしれない).
- Politeness: Add です (kamoshiremasen) for a polite register.
Detailed Explanation
〜かもしれない is one of the most common ways to express uncertainty in Japanese. It is used when you have a hunch or a suspicion but lack concrete evidence. Because it is a subjective judgment, it is rarely used to describe objective facts.
The nuance is one of "I'm not sure, but it's possible." It is slightly more informal than 〜かもしれません (polite form), but both are widely used in daily conversation. When speaking to superiors, always use the polite form 〜かもしれません.
A key feature of this pattern is that it can be used with both positive and negative possibilities. Unlike English, where we might say "It might rain" or "It might not rain," in Japanese, you simply attach the negative form of the verb/adjective to かもしれない to express the negative possibility.
Example Sentences
| Japanese | Reading | Romaji | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| 明日は雨かもしれない。 | あしたはあめかもしれない。 | Ashita wa ame kamoshirenai. | It might rain tomorrow. |
| 彼(かれ)は来ないかもしれない。 | かれはこないかもしれない。 | Kare wa konai kamoshirenai. | He might not come. |
| この道(みち)は危(あぶ)ないかもしれない。 | このみちはあぶないかもしれない。 | Kono michi wa abunai kamoshirenai. | This road might be dangerous. |
| 彼女(かのじょ)は忙(いそが)しいかもしれない。 | かのじょはいそがしいかもしれない。 | Kanojo wa isogashii kamoshirenai. | She might be busy. |
| 鍵(かぎ)を忘(わす)れたかもしれない。 | かぎをわすれたかもしれない。 | Kagi o wasureta kamoshirenai. | I might have forgotten my keys. |
| あの店(みせ)は閉(し)まっているかもしれない。 | あのみせはしまっているかもしれない。 | Ano mise wa shimatte iru kamoshirenai. | That shop might be closed. |
| 先生(せんせい)も知(し)らないかもしれません。 | せんせいもしらないかもしれません。 | Sensei mo shiranai kamoshiremasen. | Even the teacher might not know. |
| 成功(せいこう)するかもしれない。 | せいこうするかもしれない。 | Seikou suru kamoshirenai. | It might succeed. |
Comparison with Similar Patterns
〜かもしれない vs 〜でしょう / 〜だろう
- 〜かもしれない: Used when you have a low degree of certainty (maybe 30-50%). It is a pure guess.
- 〜でしょう: Used when you have a higher degree of certainty (60-80%) or when you are seeking agreement from the listener.
| Pattern | Nuance | Example |
|---|---|---|
| 〜かもしれない | Low certainty (guess) | 雨が降るかもしれない (It might rain) |
| 〜でしょう | High certainty (prediction) | 明日は雨でしょう (It will likely rain tomorrow) |
Common Mistakes
-
Adding "da" after nouns/na-adjectives: ❌ 暇だかもしれない → ✓ 暇かもしれない Explanation: When using nouns or na-adjectives, you must drop the copula "da" before attaching "kamoshirenai".
-
Using it for objective facts: ❌ 日本は島国かもしれない → ✓ 日本は島国だ Explanation: "Kamoshirenai" is for subjective guesses. Since Japan being an island is a fact, using "kamoshirenai" sounds unnatural.
-
Confusing with "kamoshiremasen": ❌ (To a friend) 明日は行くかもしれません → ✓ (To a friend) 明日は行くかもしれない Explanation: While not strictly "wrong," using the polite form with close friends can create unnecessary distance.
Practice Exercises
Fill in the blank:
- 明日、テストがある____。(Maybe there is a test tomorrow.)
- 彼はもう帰った____。(He might have already gone home.)
- この料理は辛い____。(This food might be spicy.)
- 彼女は学生____。(She might be a student.)
- 今日は忙しい____。(I might be busy today.)
Answer Key:
- かもしれない (Verb dictionary form)
- かもしれない (Past tense verb)
- かもしれない (い-adjective)
- かもしれない (Noun: student = 学生)
- かもしれない (い-adjective)
JLPT Level Notes
In the JLPT N4, this pattern often appears in reading comprehension sections to test if you understand the speaker's level of certainty. Be careful with "negative" guesses—remember that the verb/adjective inside the clause carries the negation (e.g., ikanai kamoshirenai = might not go), not the kamoshirenai itself.