English for Today by Ganiu Abisoye Bamgbose (Dr GAB)
MAY BE or MAYBE?
I ~maybe~ back before evening (nonstandard).
I *may be* back before evening (standard).
“May be” is a verb phrase which is used like the verb phrase “might be”.
~May be~, I’ll be back by evening (nonstandard).
*Maybe* I’ll be back by evening (standard).
You use maybe to express uncertainty, or when you are mentioning something that may possibly happen in the future in the way you describe.
GAB
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