I know it's means the same thing but when is it better to use one or the other?
2006-08-26 10:07:04 · 10 answers · asked by Hugoboss 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Maybe is uncertainty, perhaps is possibly but not certainly. Well I use maybe a lot when my kids ask me a question about going somewhere. To her it means maybe I will go. I use perhaps when she ask me questions about staying somewhere overnight and to her that means she will not be able to go. Like you say the both mean the same, It just depends on how people perceive it when in a sentence. So no, they both can be use in the same manner.
2006-08-26 10:47:53 · answer #1 · answered by Boricua Born 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will be very difficult for native speakers to tell you the answer to this question based on their own intuitions.
Here's some information I got from the Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English:
- Both "maybe" and "perhaps" are used in British English conversation frequently, but speakers of American English use "maybe" much more than "perhaps". Speakers of British English use them about equally.
- In conversation (across both dialects), "maybe" is used more than "perhaps".
- In fiction, "perhaps" is used more than "maybe".
- In academic English, "perhaps" is used more than "maybe".
It seems that there might not be a difference in meaning. Instead, the main difference might be in frequency.
Have a great time learning English!
2006-08-28 18:15:41 · answer #2 · answered by drshorty 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are the same except people use maybe more. Perhaps is when you want to sound educated and stuff.
2006-08-30 04:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by ROGUE 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
These two words mean almost the same. "Maybe" is common in informal, conversational English, but is not used so often in a formal style.
2006-08-26 13:36:02 · answer #4 · answered by Orchid 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hmm I use them both for any reason. Whatever sounds the best to you. "maybe" is more widely used than "perhaps" I think that is the only difference. You could also use "perchance" it is even more rare lol.
2006-08-26 10:12:22 · answer #5 · answered by Moxie 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You say Maybe when you are not sure about something, you say perhaps when you want to emphasize on possibility of something.
2006-08-26 12:36:02 · answer #6 · answered by Masoud J 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
My kids no perhaps means yes and maybe no.Thats just me.
2006-08-26 10:13:39 · answer #7 · answered by ♀Mañana♥^¥ ♪☺↕♫©⢠size= 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
perhaps would be more FORMAL. where as, maybe is more of a casual word.
2006-08-26 10:13:24 · answer #8 · answered by Friendly Neighbor 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
"Perhaps" is a little more formal than "maybe".
2006-08-26 10:12:12 · answer #9 · answered by sandman85048 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It means not sure.
2006-08-26 10:13:03 · answer #10 · answered by concerned 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋