B2 verb_system 3 دقیقه مطالعه

Expressing Poss

Combine the verb root with `सकता है (sakta hai)` or start with `shayad` to turn certainty into possibility.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Use `सकता है (sakta hai)` for 'might' or 'could'.
  • `Shayad` adds 'maybe' to any sentence.
  • Match `sakta/sakte/sakti` to the gender.
  • Subjunctive mood shows doubt or hope.

Quick Reference

Type Structure Hindi Example English Meaning
General Possibility Root + sakta hai voh aa sakta hai He might come
Uncertainty (Maybe) Shayad + Subjunctive shayad voh aaye Maybe he comes
Strong Probability Root + ta + hoga voh padhta hoga He must be studying
State of Being Noun/Adj + ho sakta hai voh bimar ho sakta hai He might be sick
Past Possibility Root + sakta tha baarish ho sakti thi It could have rained
Impossibility Nahi + sakta yeh sach nahi ho sakta This can't be true

مثال‌های کلیدی

3 از 10
1

आज रात baarish हो सकती है

It might rain tonight.

2

shayad voh raaste में हो

Maybe he is on the way.

3

क्या यह khabar सच हो सकती है?

Could this news be true?

💡

The Politeness Hack

Using 'ho sakta hai' is a very polite way to disagree. Instead of saying 'No', say 'Yeh mushkil ho sakta hai' (This might be difficult).

⚠️

Gender Trap

When talking about 'things' like rain (baarish) or night (raat), remember they have genders too! They aren't neutral.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Use `सकता है (sakta hai)` for 'might' or 'could'.
  • `Shayad` adds 'maybe' to any sentence.
  • Match `sakta/sakte/sakti` to the gender.
  • Subjunctive mood shows doubt or hope.

Overview

Life isn't always black and white, right? Sometimes you're not 100% sure. That's where Expressing Possibility comes in. In Hindi, we have a few cool ways to say "might," "could," or "maybe." It's not just about ability (like "I can swim"); it's about the chances of something happening. Think of it as the difference between knowing the bus is coming and *hoping* the bus is coming.

How This Grammar Works

We mainly use the verb sakna (to be able to) and the word shayad (maybe). But here's the twist: sakna doubles up. It handles both "I can do this" (ability) and "This might happen" (possibility). Context is your best friend here. We also use a special "mood" called the Subjunctive for uncertainty, which sounds fancy but is just a slight verb tweak.

Formation Pattern

  1. 1Here are the three main ways to sound uncertain (in a good way):
  2. 2The सकता (sakta) Method (General Possibility)
  3. 3Formula: Verb Root + sakta/sakte/sakti + hai/hain
  4. 4Example: आज baarish हो सकती है (aaj baarish ho sakti hai) (It might rain today).
  5. 5The shayad Method (The Classic "Maybe")
  6. 6Formula: shayad + Subject + Verb (Subjunctive/Future)
  7. 7Example: shayad voh कल aaye (shayad voh kal aaye) (Maybe he comes tomorrow).
  8. 8The होगा (hoga) Presumption (High Probability)
  9. 9Formula: Verb Root + ta/te/ti + hoga/honge/hogi
  10. 10Example: voh अभी सोता होगा (voh abhi sota hoga) (He must be sleeping right now / He is probably sleeping).

When To Use It

  • Weather & Predictions: "It might rain." (baarish हो सकती है (baarish ho sakti hai))
  • Guessing Locations: "He might be at the office." (voh office में हो सकता है (voh office mein ho sakta hai))
  • Polite Suggestions: "Maybe we should go?" (shayad humein jaana chahiye?)
  • Uncertain Future: "Who knows what might happen?" (kya ho sakta hai?)

When Not To Use It

  • Definite Plans: Don't use सकता (sakta) if you bought the ticket and are definitely going. Use the Future Tense (जाऊंगा (jaaunga)).
  • Past Capability: If you *could* do something but didn't, that's different (कर सकता था (kar sakta tha)). Here we are focusing on present/future uncertainty.

Common Mistakes

  • Mixing Gender: Remember, सकता (sakta) changes with the noun. Baarish (rain) is feminine, so it's सकती (sakti), not सकता (sakta). A classic slip-up!
  • Overusing Shayad: You don't always need shayad if you use सकता है (sakta hai). Using both (shayad baarish हो सकती है (shayad baarish ho sakti hai)) is okay, but shayad is technically redundant (though very common colloquially).
  • Confusing Ability with Possibility: "Main gaa sakta hoon" (I can sing - ability) vs. "Voh aa sakta hai" (He might come - possibility). Context usually clears this up, but tone matters!

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Future (करेगा (karega)) vs. Possibility (कर सकता है (kar sakta hai)): Karega is "will do" (certainty). कर सकता है (Kar sakta hai) is "might do" (uncertainty).
  • Chahiye (Should) vs. Sakta (Could): Chahiye implies duty/advice. Sakta implies potential. Don't mix them when giving polite advice.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I use हो सकता है (ho sakta hai) as a standalone phrase?

A: Absolutely! It's the Hindi equivalent of "It's possible" or "Maybe."

Q: Is shayad formal or casual?

A: It fits everywhere. From street markets to boardrooms, shayad is safe.

Q: How do I say "It is impossible"?

A: यह namumkin है (Yeh namumkin hai) or यह नहीं हो सकता (Yeh nahi ho sakta) (This cannot happen).

Reference Table

Type Structure Hindi Example English Meaning
General Possibility Root + sakta hai voh aa sakta hai He might come
Uncertainty (Maybe) Shayad + Subjunctive shayad voh aaye Maybe he comes
Strong Probability Root + ta + hoga voh padhta hoga He must be studying
State of Being Noun/Adj + ho sakta hai voh bimar ho sakta hai He might be sick
Past Possibility Root + sakta tha baarish ho sakti thi It could have rained
Impossibility Nahi + sakta yeh sach nahi ho sakta This can't be true
💡

The Politeness Hack

Using 'ho sakta hai' is a very polite way to disagree. Instead of saying 'No', say 'Yeh mushkil ho sakta hai' (This might be difficult).

⚠️

Gender Trap

When talking about 'things' like rain (baarish) or night (raat), remember they have genders too! They aren't neutral.

🎯

The 'Hoga' Assumption

Use 'hoga' when you are almost sure but don't have proof. Like seeing lights on and saying 'Voh ghar par hoga' (He must be home).

💬

Directness

Indians often use 'shayad' (maybe) even when they mean 'no', just to be soft and not hurt your feelings. Context is key!

مثال‌ها

10
#1

आज रात baarish हो सकती है

Focus: हो सकती है (ho sakti hai)

It might rain tonight.

Standard usage for weather predictions.

#2

shayad voh raaste में हो

Focus: shayad

Maybe he is on the way.

Using 'ho' (subjunctive of hona) indicates uncertainty.

#3

क्या यह khabar सच हो सकती है?

Focus: हो सकती (ho sakti)

Could this news be true?

Used in a question format to express disbelief or curiosity.

#4

shayad hum कल milenge

Focus: milenge

Maybe we will meet tomorrow.

Using Future tense with Shayad is very common.

#5

sir shayad meeting में honge

Focus: honge

Sir is probably in a meeting.

Formal/Respectful presumption using 'honge'.

#6

voh hindi नहीं bol सकता (Ability context)

Focus: bol सकता (bol sakta)

He cannot speak Hindi.

Edge case: Here 'sakta' means ability, not probability.

#7

✗ आज baarish हो सकता है → ✓ आज baarish हो सकती है

Focus: हो सकती (ho sakti)

It might rain today.

Mistake: Baarish is feminine, so use 'sakti'.

#8

✗ shayad voh aayega नहीं → ✓ shayad voh ना aaye

Focus: ना aaye (na aaye)

Maybe he won't come.

Mistake: With subjunctive 'shayad', we often use 'na' instead of 'nahi'.

#9

mumkin है की train let हो

Focus: mumkin है (mumkin hai)

It is possible that the train is late.

Advanced: Using 'mumkin hai' (it is possible) + subjunctive.

#10

उसने shayad मुझे देखा नहीं होगा

Focus: देखा नहीं होगा (dekha nahi hoga)

He probably didn't see me.

Advanced: Past presumption (Past Indefinite + hoga).

خودت رو بسنج

Choose the correct form based on the gender of 'dhoop' (sunshine/sunlight - feminine).

Aaj tez dhoop nikal ___ है. (Aaj tez dhoop nikal ___ hai.)

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: सकती (sakti)

Dhoop is feminine in Hindi, so we use 'sakti'.

Select the correct word for 'Maybe'.

___ मैं कल नहीं आऊंगा. (___ main kal nahi aaunga.)

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: Shayad

'Shayad' means maybe. 'Zaroor' is definitely, 'Hamesha' is always.

Complete the presumption regarding 'Pitaji' (Father - Respected/Plural).

Pitaji अभी office में ___. (Pitaji abhi office mein ___.)

✓ درسته! ✗ نه دقیقاً. پاسخ صحیح: honge

For respect (Father), we use the plural form 'honge'.

🎉 امتیاز: /3

ابزارهای بصری یادگیری

Ability vs. Possibility

Ability (Can)
Main daud sakta hoon I can run (I have legs)
Possibility (Might)
Voh daud sakta hai He might run (in the race)

Choosing Your Possibility Word

1

Are you 100% sure?

YES ↓
NO
1
2

Is it a guess about now?

YES ↓
NO
2
3

Is it a future chance?

YES ↓
NO
Check context

Common 'Shayad' Pairings

⏰

Time

  • • Shayad kal (tomorrow)
  • • Shayad abhi (now)
🏃

Action

  • • Shayad jaaye (go)
  • • Shayad mile (meet)
🤔

State

  • • Shayad sach ho (true)
  • • Shayad ghalat ho (wrong)

سوالات متداول

20 سوال

Sakta है (Sakta hai) is part of the verb structure indicating potential (can/could). Shayad is an adverb (maybe/perhaps) added to the start. They often mean the same thing, but सकता है (sakta hai) feels a bit more about the *event's* potential.

Yes, absolutely! Shayad मैं कल आऊंगा (Shayad main kal aaunga) (Maybe I will come tomorrow) is very common and correct.

Context usually tells them apart. If you want to be specific for possibility, add shayad: Shayad voh daud सकता है (Shayad voh daud sakta hai) (Maybe he can run/Maybe he might run).

Sambhav है (Sambhav hai) means 'it is possible'. It is slightly more formal than हो सकता है (ho sakta hai), but widely understood.

For सकता है (sakta hai), it is नहीं सकता है (nahi sakta hai) (cannot/might not). For shayad, it is usually shayad... ना (shayad... na) or shayad... नहीं (shayad... nahi).

No! Hoga is often used for **present presumption**. Voh padhta होगा (Voh padhta hoga) means 'He is probably studying (right now)'.

In rapid speech, the है (hai) is sometimes dropped, but grammatically, you should keep it: हो सकता है (ho sakta hai).

Use सकता था (sakta tha). Example: Main jeet सकता था (Main jeet sakta tha) (I could have won).

Yes, mumkin is Urdu-derived and संभव (sambhav) is Sanskrit-derived. Both mean 'possible'. Mumkin is very common in Bollywood songs!

Not usually as the question word itself. You wouldn't ask 'Shayad?' for 'Maybe?'. You'd say 'Ho sakta hai?'.

Shayad is perfect for 50/50 situations. It literally translates to 'perhaps'.

No, shayad never changes. Only the verb associated with it changes.

हो hi नहीं सकता! (Ho hi nahi sakta!) (It just can't happen!) - The hi adds emphasis.

You can survive without it by using Future Tense, but B2 learners should start using it (shayad voh aaye instead of aayega) to sound native.

Yes, Shayad baarish हो सकती है (Shayad baarish ho sakti hai). It's technically 'Maybe rain might happen', but it emphasizes the uncertainty.

Sakta works with the root of almost all verbs regularly. Jaa -> जा सकता (jaa sakta), कर (Kar) -> कर सकता (kar sakta).

Strictly speaking, Kya मैं andar आ सकता हूं? (Kya main andar aa sakta hoon?) (Can/May I come in?). Using सकता (sakta) for permission is standard.

Lagta है (Lagta hai) means 'it seems' or 'I feel'. It is very close to shayad in usage. Lagta है baarish होगी (Lagta hai baarish hogi) (It seems it will rain).

No, adverbs like shayad do not have plural forms.

Use the होगा (hoga) structure. Voh घर पर होगा (Voh ghar par hoga) (He must be at home).

مفید بود؟
قبلی
Expressing Comp
بعدی
Expressing Simultaneous Actions

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