Maybe or May be

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Hi, guys, glad to be here with all of you. Can you explain
me please a difference between 'maybe' and 'may be'? By the way, is it OK as
for you, if I ask 'guys', but actually mean both boys and girls? Thanks a lot.
Thyme

Full Member140

Approved answer (verified by Mister Micawber)

imantaghavi:

Hi Thyme and welcome to englishforums,

First of all "guy" is an informal term which refers to boys when it is used as a singular noun and refers to both male and female when used as a plural one.

Second, you're supposed to keep a civil tongue since you don't know who you're talking with.

"May" is a modal verb to show possibilities.

E.g:I may be late, so don’t wait for me.

"Maybe" is an adverb again to show possibilities.

E.g:‘Do you think he’ll come back?’ ‘Maybe.’

Cheers,

Iman

Contributing Member1,176

Thyme:

Thanks Iman, for the explanation about may be/maybe. I catch
it. But what do you mean about 'to keep a civil tongue'? Is it OK, for example,
here in/on this Forum for me as a new member to apply like this. I hope so.

By, Thyme

imantaghavi:

It means you should use a bit more formal way of asking questions since you don't know who's going to answer you.

Regards,

Iman

Mister Micawber:

Is it OK, for example, here in/on this Forum for me as a new member to apply like this. I hope so.-- Hello, Thyme. There are many different kinds of forums and groups on the internet, and many of them are very casual, so that you can use 'Hi, guys' with no worries. However, since we are an English language forum, we try to indicate the courtesies that are a part of the language. It is standard politeness to be a little more formal when meeting people you do not know. A simple, standard 'Hello' will be fine.

Veteran Member77,120

Thyme:

Well, gentlemen, thank you. I just want to clarify that if I
apply to you 'Hi, guys', it means for me that you are free to communicate with
me in the same manner (if you are ready for that). But it's very interesting
for me that such things can have some meaning on forum. At least e-mail
communication with my American colleagues has led me to conclusion that it is absolutely
unimportant. But I agree, we have known who is who. Thanks once more. Thyme.

Mister Micawber:

Well, gentlemen, thank you.-- We are not all male.

I just want to clarify that if I apply to you 'Hi, guys', it means for me that you are free to communicate with

me in the same manner (if you are ready for that).-- No, it means you are showing a lack of respect to those who may be your elders.

At least e-mail communication with my American colleagues has led me to conclusion that it is absolutely unimportant. -- They are both Americans and colleagues. We are not necessarily either.

But I agree, we have known who is who. Thanks once more. Thyme. -- I look forward to your future posts as a member.

Thyme:

Well, gentlemen, thank you.-- We are not all male.-
But I guess you are (both who replied).

I just want to clarify that if I apply to
you 'Hi, guys', it means for me that you are free to communicate with me in the same
manner (if you are ready for that).-- No, it means you are showing a lack
of respect to those who may be your elders. - I've explained what I
meant. By the way, I'm almost 50.

At least e-mail communication with my
American colleagues has led me to conclusion that it is absolutely unimportant. -- They are both
Americans and colleagues. We are not necessarily either. - It's
OK.

But I agree, we have known who is who.
Thanks once more. Thyme. -- I look forward to your future posts as a member.- Thanks,
I hope English communication in free style manner like AJ proposes is main
thing here. Other things I have enough in a real environment. My best. Thyme Emotion: smile

Mister Micawber:

Well, gentlemen, thank you— We are not all male.—But I guess you are (both who replied).-- That is the point: you cannot afford to guess.

I just want to clarify that if I apply to you 'Hi, guys', it means for me that you are free to communicate with me in the same manner (if you are ready for that).-- No, it means you are showing a lack of respect to those who may be your elders. - I've explained what Imeant. By the way, I'm almost 50.-- And I am 70 and a long-time English teacher.

I hope English communication in free style manner like AJ proposes is main thing here. Other things I have enough in a real environment. My best. Thyme.-- Life is not 'free style'. It's EXTREMELY important to recognize and respect the cultures to which you desire access.

Maybe or May be

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