Possibility Aura
Modal verb
Possibility
Potential mood
Is it possible? Could it happen?
core
basic
Speaker stance
Betekenis
A modal layer expressing possibility, chance, potential, uncertainty, or situational openness.
Zo herken je het
Ask whether the event might happen or is possible.
Voorbeelden
Woorden
may|might|could|possible|perhaps
Zinnen
it may rain|could happen|possibly true
Voorbeeldzin
It might rain tomorrow.
Visual guide
Basic shape
Possibility layer: [event] ↑ may / might / could = open chance It might rain tomorrow.
Compare shape
Possible ≠ certain: will rain = sure path might rain = open chance cannot rain = closed off Ask: could it happen? Form: verb, adverb, mood, particle
Taaloverzicht
In je taal
Dutch (standard)
Aanwezigheid
strong
Belang
Possibility uses kunnen, mogen in some meanings, and probability adverbs.
Het kan morgen regenen.
It can tomorrow rain.
In de taal die je leert
English (US default)
Aanwezigheid
strong
Moeilijkheidsgraad
English expresses possibility with may, might, could, maybe, perhaps, and likely/unlikely patterns.
It may rain later.
may = possibility
Veelvoorkomend struikelpunt
Learners may confuse may/might/could or use maybe in clause positions influenced by their native language.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.