Spanish grammar
Quizás / tal vez + subjunctive; a lo mejor + indicative
Talk about possibility, using quizás / tal vez + subjunctive and a lo mejor + indicative.
From the scene Quizás llueva (Maybe it'll rain)
In short
Quizás and tal vez usually take the subjunctive. A lo mejor means the same but takes the indicative.
Your turn
Which one goes with maybe you're right?
Options: quizás llueva · tal vez traiga… · tal vez tengas razón
Show answer
maybe you're right → tal vez tengas razón
How it works
Quizás and tal vez (maybe) normally take the subjunctive: quizás llueva, tal vez tengas razón.
Good to know
A lo mejor means the same but always takes the indicative: a lo mejor pasan rápido. Same idea, different grammar.
maybe it'll rain quizás llueva
Nuria
Quizás llueva esta noche. Mira esas nubes.
Maybe it'll rain tonight. Look at those clouds.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) esta noche. Mira esas nubes.
Options: Quizás llueva · Tal vez tengas razón · Tal vez traiga
Show answer
Nuria
Quizás llueva esta noche. Mira esas nubes.
Maybe it'll rain tonight. Look at those clouds.
maybe you're right tal vez tengas razón
Your turn
What goes with tal vez tengas razón?
Options: maybe it'll rain · maybe she'll bring… · maybe you're right
Show answer
tal vez tengas razón → maybe you're right
maybe she'll bring… tal vez traiga…
Javi
Tal vez traiga bocadillo de guayaba.
Maybe she'll bring guava bocadillo.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) bocadillo de guayaba.
Options: Tal vez traiga · Quizás llueva · Tal vez tengas razón
Show answer
Javi
Tal vez traiga bocadillo de guayaba.
Maybe she'll bring guava bocadillo.
maybe they'll pass quickly a lo mejor pasan rápido
Javi
Tranquila. A lo mejor pasan rápido.
Relax. Maybe they'll pass quickly.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Tranquila. (blank).
Options: Tal vez tengas razón · A lo mejor pasan rápido · Quizás llueva
Show answer
Javi
Tranquila. A lo mejor pasan rápido.
Relax. Maybe they'll pass quickly.
maybe your mum is bringing… a lo mejor tu madre trae…
Nuria
A lo mejor tu madre trae algo de Colombia.
Maybe your mum is bringing something from Colombia.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) algo de Colombia.
Options: A lo mejor tu madre trae · Quizás llueva · Tal vez tengas razón
Show answer
Nuria
A lo mejor tu madre trae algo de Colombia.
Maybe your mum is bringing something from Colombia.
Common mistake
Not pasen or pasar here. They (the clouds) — a lo mejor + indicative.
Tranquila. A lo mejor pasan rápido.
Relax. Maybe they'll pass quickly.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| maybe it'll rain | quizás llueva |
|---|---|
| maybe you're right | tal vez tengas razón |
| maybe she'll bring… | tal vez traiga… |
| maybe they'll pass quickly | a lo mejor pasan rápido |
| maybe your mum is bringing… | a lo mejor tu madre trae… |
More lines from the story
- JaviNo, mija. En Colombia el bocadillo es un dulce.No, dear. In Colombia a 'bocadillo' is a sweet.
- JaviCompramos dos. A lo mejor Doña Elena ya viene de camino.Let's buy two. Maybe Doña Elena is already on her way.