Or isn't there a diffrence?
2007-02-16 00:36:02 · 17 answers · asked by cuchara 5 in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
Found on the BBC World Service site:
"maybe / perhaps
In British English both of these adverbs are still very commonly used and have the same meaning. You use them to say that something is possible or may be true, but you are not certain.
They can be used interchangeably but of the two, maybe is very appropriate for more informal contexts and perhaps is used in more formal situations. Compare the following:
I can't find it anywhere. ~ Perhaps / Maybe you threw it away.
How old is Jane? ~ I don't really know. In her twenties, certainly. Twenty-five, maybe.
There were perhaps as many as fifty badly wounded soldiers in the hospital.
Perhaps I should explain to you how they came to be there.
St Paul's Cathedral is perhaps one of London's most prominent landmarks.
Why don't you join us for the New Year celebrations? ~ Yeah, perhaps / maybe I will.
Maybe you are right! Perhaps it would be best if you didn't invite Johnnie "
Cheers
2007-02-18 01:37:24 · answer #1 · answered by dours 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
In my opinion "maybe" is used as a sorta slighty stronger term rather than "perhaps" whcih might be said in a way like you almost never thought of it e.g "Can we go to the cinema? Maybe...", "Can I skive school today? Perhaps..."
2007-02-16 00:44:44 · answer #2 · answered by wally 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word 'maybe' implies that an option is available: maybe this or maybe that - maybe yes; maybe no. The word 'perhaps' is rooted in happenstance, where something may or may not occur.
2007-02-16 00:43:19 · answer #3 · answered by Mrs B 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
a second cousin is where your cousin had a baby. A cousin once removed it where you are related to someone but they divorce the wife and you belong now on the wifes side. so that makes the wife your cousin once removed because she is related by marriage.
2016-05-24 06:30:11 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
can't think of any major difference mayber it is perhaps a case of one suiting a particular moment more than the other.
2007-02-16 00:43:56 · answer #5 · answered by eagledreams 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No real difference, but 'perhaps' is more formal than 'maybe'. 'Maybe' is used more frequently as well.
2007-02-16 08:52:43 · answer #6 · answered by C 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not sure but as a kid maybe/perhaps and we'll see - they all really meant NO!!!!
2007-02-16 00:39:25 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hello.
No difference in the way they are used.
2007-02-16 01:04:12 · answer #8 · answered by Mitzi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
maybe i will,or perhaps i wont,they mean the same
2007-02-16 00:44:36 · answer #9 · answered by angus r 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
None
2007-02-16 00:44:07 · answer #10 · answered by RocketGizmo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋