(单词翻译:单击)
Hello and welcome to Ask a Teacher!
大家好，欢迎大家来到名师答疑栏目。
In today's program, we compare two things that sound and look the same but are used a little differently.
在今天的节目中，我们将比较两种表达，它们听起来和看起来是一样的，但使用方式却略有不同。
Listen to our reader's request:
让我们听听读者的诉求：
I want to know the uses of "maybe" and "may be."
我想知道“maybe”和“may be”的用法。
These two words really drive me crazy.
这两个表达真的让我抓狂。
Hi and thanks for writing to us!
你好，感谢你给我们来信！
Maybe the words drive you crazy but I may be the right person to help.
也许（Maybe）这些词语会让你抓狂，但我可能是（may be）解答这个问题的合适人选。
We use both "maybe" and "may be" to talk about possibility. The main difference is that they are different parts of speech.
“maybe”和“may be”都可用来表述可能性。二者的主要区别在于词性不同。
As one word, "maybe" is an adverb – a word that describes a verb, an adjective, another adverb or a sentence.
作为单个词语，“Maybe”是副词，用以修饰动词、形容词、其他副词或全句。
As an adverb, "maybe" has the same meaning as "possibly."
作为副词，“maybe”与“possibly”含义相同。
We use it to talk about a future possible action or happening:
我们用它来讨论未来可能采取的行动或发生的事情：
Maybe I'll go for a swim tomorrow morning.
明天早上我可能去游泳。
We also use it to say that something is possibly correct or true:
我们还用它来表示某事可能是正确的或真的：
There are maybe three more people coming.
还有三个人可能要来。
We can also use it to respond to a request or suggestion:
我们还可用它来回答请求或建议：
Do you want to go for a swim tomorrow?
明天你想去游泳吗？
Maybe. I have to check my plans, thanks.
也许吧。我得看一下我的安排，谢谢。
Now let's talk about "may be" – which is two words.
现在让我们来讨论“may be” ，它是两个单词。
As separate words, "may be" acts as a verb phrase and means "might be" or "could be."
作为单独的两个单词，“may be”充当动词短语，意思是“might be”或“could be” （可能是）。
For this usage, the word "may" is a modal verb.
在这种用法中，单词“may”是情态动词。
And "be" can act as either a main verb or part of a continuous verb tense.
单词“be”既可充当主要动词，也可作为延续性动词时态的一部分。
Here it is with "be" as the main verb:
以下例句是用“be”作为主要动词：
There may be another chance to take the exam.
可能还有机会参加考试。
"May be" is also sometimes used to make a polite suggestion, as in the next example.
“May be”有时也用于礼貌性提建议，如下例所示。
The verb "be" here acts as the main verb:
动词“be”在这里用作主要动词：
It may be a good idea to start saving money.
开始存钱可能是个好主意。
Next is an example with "be" as part of the present continuous (or be + -ing) verb tense:
下个例句是用“be”当作动词的现在进行时态（或be + -ing）的一部分：
We may be coming to your place later today.
今天晚些时候，我们可能会去你那儿。
And that's Ask a Teacher.
以上就是今日名师答疑的全部内容。
I'm Alice Bryant.
我是爱丽丝·布莱恩特。
