perhaps

Meanings

1. 1adverbnot comparable

   Used to say that something is possible but not certain.

   Grammar: Often comes at the start of a clause: Perhaps it will rain.

   Patterns

   • perhaps + clause
   • perhaps not

   Perhaps she missed the bus.

   The meeting may, perhaps, be moved to Friday.

   Is it a bug? Perhaps, but I am not sure.

2. 2adverbnot comparableformal

   Used to make a suggestion, offer or request sound polite and less direct.

   Grammar: Usually opens a sentence: Perhaps you could help.

   Patterns

   • Perhaps you could do something
   • Perhaps we should do something

   Perhaps you would like to sit down.

   Perhaps we should leave before it gets dark.

   Perhaps I could ask you a few questions.

3. 3adverbnot comparable

   Used before a number or amount to show that it is approximate.

   Grammar: Stands before the number: perhaps fifty.

   Patterns

   • perhaps + number

   There were perhaps fifty people at the talk.

   The trip takes perhaps two hours.

   It cost perhaps ten dollars.

Common combinations

perhaps not

We might win, but perhaps not by much.

perhaps even

It helps with the cold, and perhaps even with sleep.

perhaps because

He was quiet, perhaps because he felt shy.

perhaps the best

This is perhaps the best meal I've had.

perhaps you could

Perhaps you could help me carry these.

Synonyms and how they differ

maybe

Maybe is the usual spoken choice and slightly more casual than perhaps, which is more polite in writing.

possibly

Possibly stresses that something could happen, and can also soften a request, but it sounds a bit stronger on possibility.

conceivably

Conceivably is formal and suggests something is barely imaginable, while perhaps is more neutral.

probably

Probably shows high likelihood, while perhaps shows only a small chance.

Opposites

Word family

haps noun

chance events, from the old word hap, the root of perhaps

happen verb

to take place by chance, related to hap

perchance adverb

an old or poetic word meaning perhaps

Commonly confused: perhaps or prehaps? perhaps or pehaps?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “perhaps”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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