B2 · Unit 20 · 43 words, 3 texts with translation
Say how likely something is
Talk about probability and guesses: what's possible, what's unlikely, and how to stop overthinking when there's no proof yet.
Texts in this unit
Grammar in this unit
Maybe: which verb form after puede que, quizá, tal vez and a lo mejor
You already know quizá(s), tal vez, a lo mejor and the set phrase puede que (B1, unit 24): they all mean "maybe". What's new is which verb form comes after each one.
Why it matters: a friend doesn't answer, the train is late, and we spend the whole day guessing. From the verb form, a Spanish speaker hears how sure you are. English "maybe" never changes the verb, so this takes some practice.
| Words | Form after them | Example |
|---|---|---|
| puede que, es posible que, es probable que, es improbable que, es dudoso que | always the subjunctive | Puede que esté ocupado. — He might be busy. |
| quizá(s), tal vez | both: the normal form (indicative) means "I think so", the subjunctive means "who knows" | Quizá está en casa. — He's probably at home. Quizá esté en casa. — He might be at home. |
| a lo mejor, igual (colloquial), seguramente | always the normal form (indicative) | A lo mejor está liado. — Maybe he's busy. |
More examples:
- Es posible que el tren llegue tarde. — The train may be late.
- Tal vez tengas razón. — Maybe you're right.
- Igual llego un poco tarde. — I might be a little late. Use igual only with friends.
- For something that has already happened, use haya + past participle (unit 9): Puede que se le haya olvidado. — He may have forgotten.
Three fine points:
- if quizá or tal vez comes after the verb, only the normal form works: está enfermo, quizá ("he's sick, maybe");
igualin the sense of "maybe" goes before the verb. Don't confuse it withme da igual— I don't care;es obvio que, está claro que, seguro que are no longer a guess but a fact, so the normal form follows: es obvio que está enfadado ("it's obvious he's angry"). Butes inexplicable que— "it's inexplicable that" — is a judgment (unit 7), and the subjunctive follows it.
A common mistake is using the subjunctive after a lo mejor because you feel unsure. But a lo mejor always takes the normal form: not ✗ a lo mejor venga, but a lo mejor viene. And the other way around: not ✗ puede que viene, but puede que venga.
Seguramente — "probably", not "surely"
The word seguramente looks like "surely, for sure": after all, seguro means "sure". That's a trap. In everyday speech seguramente means "probably, most likely": the speaker is almost sure but won't promise anything.
Why it matters. A repairman says seguramente iré mañana. That's not a promise, just "I'll probably come tomorrow". When you hear seguramente, ask again: ¿Seguro? ("Are you sure?")
After seguramente comes the normal form of the verb, often the future tense:
- Seguramente está en una reunión. — He's probably in a meeting.
- Seguramente le llamarán la semana que viene. — They'll probably call you next week (formal).
- Seguramente no ha visto el mensaje. — He probably hasn't seen the message.
How to say how sure you are:
| How sure | Words |
|---|---|
| for sure | seguro que + normal form, sin duda, estoy seguro / segura de que |
| probably | seguramente, probablemente |
| maybe | a lo mejor, quizá, puede que |
Compare the same sentence:
- Seguro que te contesta hoy. — He'll definitely answer you today.
- Seguramente te contesta hoy. — He'll probably answer you today.
A common mistake is saying "I'll definitely come" as ✗ seguramente vendré. A Spanish speaker hears "I'll probably come" and won't count on you. Say seguro que vengo or vendré, seguro.
Words in this unit
la probabilidad — probability, chance
Hay mucha probabilidad de lluvia el domingo. — There's a high chance of rain on Sunday.
improbable — unlikely, improbable
Es improbable que llame hoy. — He's unlikely to call today.
obvio — obvious, clear
Es obvio que está cansado. — It's obvious he's tired.
dudoso — doubtful, questionable
Su excusa me parece dudosa. — His excuse seems questionable to me.
la suposición — assumption, guess
Eso es solo una suposición. — That's just an assumption.
la hipótesis — hypothesis, theory
Mi primera hipótesis es que está muy ocupado. — My first hypothesis is that he's very busy.
la teoría — theory
Tengo una teoría sobre por qué no contesta. — I have a theory about why he isn't answering.
la certeza — certainty
No tengo la certeza de que venga. — I'm not certain he'll come.
la intuición — intuition, gut feeling
Mi intuición me dice que pasa algo. — My intuition tells me something's going on.
el indicio — sign, hint, clue
Hay indicios de que algo no va bien. — There are signs that something's wrong.
la coincidencia — coincidence
¡Qué coincidencia verte aquí! — What a coincidence to see you here!
aparentemente — apparently, seemingly
Aparentemente, todo está bien. — Apparently, everything is fine.
malinterpretar — to misinterpret, to misunderstand
Siempre malinterpreto sus mensajes. — I always misinterpret his messages.
exagerar — to exaggerate
No exageres, no es tan grave. — Don't exaggerate, it's not that serious.
analizar — to analyze, to go over
Voy a analizar el mensaje con calma. — I'm going to analyze the message calmly.
plantearse — to consider, to think about, to ask yourself
Me planteo si debo escribirle. — I'm wondering whether I should write to him.
obsesionarse — to obsess, to get fixated
No te obsesiones con el mensaje. — Don't obsess over the message.
influir — to influence, to affect
El tiempo influye en mi humor. — The weather affects my mood.
comerse la cabeza — to overthink, to rack your brain
No te comas la cabeza, seguro que está ocupado. — Don't overthink it, I'm sure he's busy.
ponerse en lo peor — to assume the worst, to expect the worst
No te pongas en lo peor: seguro que hay una explicación. — Don't assume the worst: I'm sure there's an explanation.
dar por hecho — to assume, to take for granted
Doy por hecho que vienes a la cena. — I'm assuming you're coming to dinner.
sacar conclusiones — to draw conclusions
No saques conclusiones sin hablar con él. — Don't draw conclusions without talking to him.
en teoría — in theory
En teoría, el autobús pasa cada diez minutos. — In theory, the bus comes every ten minutes.
en principio — in principle, for now, as things stand
En principio, quedamos a las ocho. — As things stand, we're meeting at eight.
indeciso — indecisive, undecided
Soy un poco indeciso con las decisiones importantes. — I'm a bit indecisive about big decisions (man speaking).
liado — busy, swamped, tied up
Estoy liado esta semana. — I'm swamped this week (man speaking).
distraído — distracted, absent-minded
Estás muy distraído hoy. — You're really distracted today (to a man).
la pausa — pause, break
Hacemos una pausa y seguimos luego. — Let's take a break and continue later.
la notificación — notification
Me ha llegado una notificación. — I just got a notification.
el perfil — profile
Su perfil dice que vive en Valencia. — Her profile says she lives in Valencia.
el vídeo — video
Te mando un vídeo. — I'll send you a video.
el contexto — context
Sin el contexto, la frase suena fatal. — Without the context, the sentence sounds terrible.
confuso — confusing, unclear; confused
El mensaje es muy confuso. — The message is really confusing.
ambiguo — ambiguous
Su respuesta fue ambigua. — His answer was ambiguous.
mental — mental
La salud mental es importante. — Mental health is important.
el psicólogo — psychologist
Mi hermana es psicóloga. — My sister is a psychologist.
la terapia — therapy
Hago terapia desde marzo. — I've been in therapy since March.
la depresión — depression
Estuvo con depresión un año. — She had depression for a year.
la autoestima — self-esteem
Tiene la autoestima muy baja. — He has very low self-esteem.
inexplicable — inexplicable
Es inexplicable que no conteste. — It's inexplicable that he isn't answering.
el presentimiento — feeling, hunch, premonition
Tengo un presentimiento raro. — I have a strange feeling.
olvidadizo — forgetful
Mi padre es muy olvidadizo. — My dad is very forgetful.
acaso — really, actually (in reproachful questions)
¿Acaso crees que no me importa? — Do you really think I don't care?
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