grammar.subjunctive.quizas-tal-vez
Quizás and tal vez: choosing the mood
Before the verb, quizá(s)/tal vez take subjunctive or indicative by confidence: quizás venga (who knows) vs quizás viene (probably). A lo mejor: always indicative.
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Explanation
The mood is a confidence dial: quizás sea verdad (open) vs quizás es verdad (leaning yes). Placed after the verb, only the indicative works: viene mañana, quizás.
Colloquial a lo mejor and igual (Spain) never take the subjunctive: a lo mejor llueve. Puede que, on the other hand, is always subjunctive: puede que llegue tarde.
Examples
Tal vez cambien las reglas el año que viene.
Maybe the rules will change next year.
Maybe the rules will change next year.
Region: global
A lo mejor nos vemos el sábado.
Maybe we'll see each other Saturday.
Maybe we'll see each other Saturday.
Region: global