Help needed with Subjunctive and Dubitativas please

Question

My class has just gone on to learning Subjunctive and I am very confused. I had understood that Quizás and Tal vez were "trigger words" for using the Subjunctive - can they also be used in the Indicative?

My homework is to write phrases/text using various words and I don´t even understand the instructions as follows:

Dubitativas (doubts) 1. Igual, Lo mismo, A lo mejor = Indicativo. OK I understand

1. Quizás, Tal vez - Indicativo (menos duda) = Posiblemente, Probablement, Acaso = Subjunctivo (más duda)

   Until I´ve got this sorted out I can´t do my homework - any help will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Answer 1

"Tal vez" / Quiza(s) are often used with the subjunctive to express that "maybe" or "perhaps" something will happen, but you aren't sure. If you are basically sure, but still want to say "maybe" or "perhaps" to 'lighten the blow' then you can use the indicative.

Quizás/Tal vez llueve.

Maybe it will rain. (I'm almost certain!)

Quizás/Tal vez llueva.

Maybe it will rain (but I'm not sure).

Thank you very much - why do the text books make it so complicated! - caza, Mar 9, 2010

Answer 2

Those instructions seem really confusing.

Quizás debas concentrarte en la conjugación del verbo.

Tal vez debas concentrarte en la conjugación del verbo.

it`s like saying: Acaso debas concentrate en la conjugación del verbo.

A lo mejor sea más facil aprender el subjuntivo así.

it´s like saying: Probablemente sea más facil aprender el subjuntivo así. / Posiblemente sea más facil aprender el subjuntivo así.