Take the 2-minute tour ×  What is the difference in meaning and
usage between maybe and may be? Are they synonymous?
share|improve this question add comment  2 Answers  up vote 30
down vote accepted  maybe is an adverb, meaning perhaps or
possibly.  may be is a verbal construction, formed of the modal
verb may and the verb be, which can be used in sentences like
“he may be in the office today”. Note that, if you were to
rewrite this sentence with maybe, you would say “maybe he is in
the office today”. Because maybe is an adverb, you need to add a
verb to the sentence (is, a form of be, in that case).
share|improve this answer add comment  Maybe is an adverb, with
means possibly or perhaps; may be is a verbal phrase.  Maybe you
are wrong. It may be true.  As per the origin, the NOAD reports
that the origin of maybe is late Middle English, from the phrase
it may be (that).  share|improve this answer add comment  Your
Answer