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"Subjuntivo" is a noun which is often translated as "subjunctive", and "puede ser" is a phrase which is often translated as "maybe". Learn more about the difference between "subjuntivo" and "puede ser" below.
el subjuntivo(
soob
-
hoon
-
tee
-
boh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (grammar)
a. subjunctive
El subjuntivo es una forma verbal que les cuesta mucho entender a los extranjeros.The subjunctive is a verbal form that foreigners find very difficult to understand.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
2. (grammar)
a. subjunctive
Recién cuando empecé a estudiar idiomas extranjeros me enteré de la existencia del modo subjuntivo.I only learned of the existence of the subjunctive mood when I began to study foreign languages.
puede ser(
pweh
-
deh
sehr
)A phrase is a group of words commonly used together (e.g., once upon a time).
a. maybe
¿Crees que a Ana le gusta Martín? - Puede ser. No lo sé.Do you think Ana likes Martín? - Maybe. I don't know.
b. perhaps
¿Vas a casarte con ella? - Puede ser. Ya veremos.Are you going to marry her? - Perhaps. We'll see.
c. it's possible
¿Habrá otro referendo? - Puede ser.Will there be another referendum? It's possible.
d. no direct translation
This refers to an idiomatic word or phrase for which there is no word-for-word translation.
¿Crees que despedirán a papá? - Puede ser, pero no te preocupes.Do you think Pop will be dismissed? - He may be, but don't worry about it.
No habrá bebido el whisky Julián, ¿verdad? - Ni idea, pero supongo que puede ser.You don't think it was Julián who drank the whisky, do you? - I've no idea, but I suppose it could have been him.
