maybe 和 perhaps 都是表示某种猜测的副词,而且都作“也许”、“可能”解。但maybe 一般用于非正式语体,而且主要用于美国英语中。另外,在表示“尽可能快地”时,只能使用短语 as soon as maybe (相当于 as soon as possible),其中的 maybe 不能用 perhaps 替换。例如:I'll come as soon as maybe.我会尽快来的。It's clouding up. Maybe it'll rain this afternoon. 天阴起来了,今天下午也许有雨。Maybe we'll see you tomorrow. 也许我们明天会见到你。I think that's perhaps her finest picture. 我想那也许是她最好的照片了。
(摘自《英语词语用法详解词典》p.603,商务印书馆2014年9月第1版)
possibly 的用法:
1. can, could, may, might 可以用来表示委婉客气的语气,有时加上 possibly 能使语气更加委婉客气。例如:Can you possibly come? 您能来吗?Could I possibly use use your phone? 我可以用您的电话吗?
2. 比较下面两句话,注意在句中的位置不同及句义的变化:They possibly can't leave now. 可能他们现在还不能走。They can't possibly leave now. 他们现在绝不可能走的。
有时,为了避免意义上混淆,在书写时常用逗号隔开。试比较:He can't, possibly, stand up to his wife. 他也许不敢顶撞他的老婆。He can't possibly stand up to his wife. 他无论如何也不敢顶撞他老婆。
3. possibly 有时可表示 perhaps 的意思(主要用在肯定句中)。例如:Possibly you are right.也许你是对的。Will you go with us tomorrow? — Possibly.你明天和我们一起走好吗?— 也许吧。
4. 英语习惯上说 as soon as possible, as quick as possible, 不说 as soon as possibly,as quick as possibly 尽管后者在语法上来说是更正确的。例如:Can you fix the radio as soon as possible? 你能尽快修好这部收音机吗?Just get the work to finish up as quick as possible. 尽快把这工作结束。
(摘自《英语词语用法详解词典》p.732,商务印书馆2014年9月第1版)
maybe, perhaps, probably, possibly区别如下
【1】maybe意为“大概,或许”,多用于口语,还可用于礼貌的建议或请求,多用于句首或句末,美国用法。
Maybe I'll go.
我或许会去。
【2】perhaps意为“也许,可能,大概”,比较正式,还可用于建议,请求及温和的命令,英国用法。
This is perhaps his best novel yet.
这也许是他迄今为止写得最好的一部小说。
Perhaps/Maybe you would like to join us for lunch.
也许您愿意和我们一块去吃午饭。(表请求)
You'd better go now,perhaps.
您最好还是现在就走。(表命令)
Perhaps we will be late for work.
或许我们上班会迟到。
Perhaps we’d better take a bus.
也许我们最好乘公共汽车。
【3】probably意为“大概,很可能,十之八九”,所表示的可能性比maybe,perhaps实现的可能性大,多与动词连用。
It will probably be fine tomorrow.
明天大概会是晴天。
John probably told his father all about the matter;he usually tells him everything.
约翰很可能把这一切都告诉了他的父亲;他通常对父亲是什么都说的。(表可能性很大)
【4】possibly意为“可能地,也许,或许”,较probably意味弱,在肯定句里表可能性很小;在否定、疑问句中与can,could连用,表示“无论如何也不”,肯定句中与can,could连用,以加强语气,表示“设法,竭力地”。
I'll do it as possibly as I can.
我将尽我的所能去做。(与can连用)
I can't possibly drink any more.
我无论如何不能再喝了。
It may possibly be true.也许是真的。
Please call me as soon as you possibly can.
请尽快给我打电话。
Could you possibly tell me the answer﹖
你能告诉我这个答案吗?
备注:以上几个可能性从强到弱顺序为
probably大于perhaps大于maybe大于possibly。
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