Posiblemente + subjunctive/indicative?

Question

I notice on a recent thread that corrections were given to posts which followed the word posiblemente by a verb in the indicative - the corrections gave the subjunctive form instead.

I was under the impression that posiblemente along with talvez, quizás etc could be followed by either the subjunctive or the indicative, is this true?

Answer 1

You are correct KG. Words meaning "possibly", "maybe", "perhaps" and the like can take either the subjunctive or the indicative, depending on context and intent.

Un poco mas. Es del texto "De aca de este lado", una telenovela didactica:

Quizá(s), tal vez, probablemente. Estos pueden acompañar a un verbo en indicativo o subjuntivo. Al emplear el subjuntivo se expresa mayor duda y esto corresponde a una forma de hablar mas formal o cuidada. Quiza hoy llueve. / Probablemente me dan ese trabajo. / Tal vez el sol va a brillar hoy. Quiza hoy llueva. / Probablemente me den ese trabajo. / Tal vez el sol vaya a brillar hoy.

1. A lo mejor. Siempre seguido de un verbo en indicativo. Su uso es frecuente en la lengua hablada. A lo mejor me dan el trabajo.

2. Puede (ser) que. Por lo general seguido de subjuntivo. Su uso es frecuente en la lengua hablada. Puede ser que no vengan a la fiesta.

Gracias Jeremías - could you possibly (je je) give me some examples? :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2011

Tal vez lo pueda, o posiblemente no. OK... a lo mejor voy a hacerlo... - Jeremias, Jul 18, 2011

je je gracias :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2011

Answer 2

I found this on this website. It says that the subjunctive is optional in these cases. So the only choice besides subjunctive is indicative, so I believe that answer to your questions is, yes, either the subjunctive or indicative.

I hope I helped you

Gracias:) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2011

De nada! - SonrisaDelSol, Jul 18, 2011

Answer 3

In the case that a fact is being presented in a positive sense (He's possibly lying), you would use the indicative--"él posiblemente está mintiendo." It's very difficult to use it in a negative sense, as "I doubt that he's possibly telling the truth" is awkward and wordy. However, many sources say that the indicative and subjunctive may both be used in cases with the word "posiblemente."

Gracias :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jul 18, 2011