We use the words tal vez, quizás or quizá followed by indicative or subjunctiveto express probability or doubt. (I/you may or might... etc or It is possible that...).
No sé qué me pasa; quizásestoy un poco nervioso.I don't know what is wrong with me; I may be a bit nervous.
No sé qué me pasa; quizásesté un poco nervioso.I don't know what is wrong with me; I maybe a bit nervous.
Tal vezvoy al concierto esta noche.I might go to the concert tonight.
Tal vezvaya al concierto esta noche.I might go to the concert tonight.
If the probability/doubt is related to a past situation, you will find past tenses both in the indicative and the subjunctive.
See and listen to the folowing examples:
Quizá Miguel no aprobó.Miguel maynot have passed.
Quizá Miguel no aprobara.Miguel maynot have passed.
Quizá Miguel no ha aprobado.Miguel maynot have passed.
Quizá Miguel no haya aprobado.Miguel maynot have passed.
Note about placement
The words tal vez, quizás and quizá may be placed at the end of the sentence as well, but, if that is the case, it will not accept the subjunctive mood, only the indicative.
Miguel no haya aprobado tal vez.
Miguel no ha aprobado tal vez.
Here are more examples:
Tal vezvaya a la playa mañana.I maygo to the beach tomorrow.
Tal veztengas la gripe.You mayhave the flu.
Quizásvuelva algún día.She/he maycome back one day.
Quizáslleguemos tarde.We mightbe late.
Tal vezseáis felices algún día.You maybe happy one day.
Tal vezquieran cenar tarde.They maywant to have dinner late.
Quizás el vuelo se retrasó.The flight mayhave been delayed.
Tal vez los niños no fueron al colegio.The children mayhave not gone to school.
Both with the indicative and the subjunctive the intensity of probability or doubt is the same, so they are interchangeable.
Note that, when, more than doubt, we're indicating a suggestion, you can also find quizás, quizá and tal vez used with deber or poder in the conditional , coinciding more literally with the English: "Maybe/perhaps I/you should/could..." , For example:
Tal vez debería llamar a la oficina para decir que estoy enferma.Maybe I should call the office to say I'm ill.
Quizás podría usted llamar a este otro teléfono. Tal vez le atiendan ahí mejor.You could perhaps call this other number. They may be of more help to you there.
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Tal vez debería llamar a la oficina para decir que estoy enferma.Maybe I should call the office to say I'm ill.Tal vezvaya al concierto esta noche.I might go to the concert tonight.Quizás podría usted llamar a este otro teléfono. Tal vez le atiendan ahí mejor.You could perhaps call this other number. They may be of more help to you there.Tal vezquieran cenar tarde.They maywant to have dinner late.Tal veztengas la gripe.You mayhave the flu.Quizás el vuelo se retrasó.The flight mayhave been delayed.Tal vezvaya a la playa mañana.I maygo to the beach tomorrow.No sé qué me pasa; quizásestoy un poco nervioso.I don't know what is wrong with me; I may be a bit nervous.Tal vez los niños no fueron al colegio.The children mayhave not gone to school.Tal vezseáis felices algún día.You maybe happy one day.Quizásvuelva algún día.She/he maycome back one day.Quizá Miguel no ha aprobado.Miguel maynot have passed.Quizá Miguel no haya aprobado.Miguel maynot have passed.Quizáslleguemos tarde.We mightbe late.Quizá Miguel no aprobó.Miguel maynot have passed.Tal vezvoy al concierto esta noche.I might go to the concert tonight.No sé qué me pasa; quizásesté un poco nervioso.I don't know what is wrong with me; I maybe a bit nervous.Quizá Miguel no aprobara.Miguel maynot have passed.