N4-G-026
I adjective plain form＋かもしりません (Might be)
Core / Probability with Adjectives
👀 Layer A: Visual Guide
📝 Quick Summary
Use this to express a possibility that something has a certain quality. You must use the Plain Form of the I-adjective. It allows you to guess about the present, past, or even the negative state of an item.
Present: [Adj-い] + かもしれません (Might be ~).
Past: [Adj-かった] + かもしれません (Might have been ~).
Example: あの みせは たかい かもしれません (That shop might be expensive).
🔗 Connected Grammar:
🔍 Layer B: Deepening
💡 Raya’s Hack
Handling the Negative and Past
Students often find it hard to say “It might NOT have been ~.” Just remember that the “Kamoshiremasen” part stays the same; you only change the adjective to its short form.
– Negative: 忙しくない (not busy) ➡️ 忙しくない かもしれません (might not be busy).
– Past: 忙しかった (was busy) ➡️ 忙しかった かもしれません (might have been busy).
Think of “Kamoshiremasen” as a hat you put on top of a plain sentence!
🚧 Joy’s Mistake
Scene: Joy is looking at a heavy box.
Joy: 「この はこは おもい です かもしれません。」
(Kono hako wa omoi desu kamoshiremasen.)
❌ “Desu” is extra!
Why?
In Japanese grammar, you cannot have two polite endings (Desu and Masen) in the same clause. Since “Kamoshiremasen” is already polite, the adjective must be in its Plain/Dictionary form. Just drop the “desu”!
Correct: 「おもい かもしれません。」
🔥 Layer C: Practice Loop
Test your “Maybe” adjectives! (Hiragana and English only)
Level 1: Conjugation
Q1. Might be delicious (おいしい)
Q2. Might be cold (さむい)
Q3. Might have been expensive (たかい – Past)
Q4. Might not be busy (いそがしい – Negative)
Q5. Might be difficult (むずかしい)
Level 2: Full Sentences
Q6. That shop might be expensive.
Q7. The exam might have been difficult. (Past)
Q8. Tomorrow might be cold.
Q9. This food might not be delicious. (Negative)
Q10. That movie might be interesting.
