Using the subjunctive or the indicative after tal vez and quizás to express doubt in Spanish
We use the words tal vez, quizás or quizá followed by indicative or subjunctive to express probability or doubt. (I/you may or might... etc or It is possible that...).
If the probability/doubt is related to a present or future situation, you will find El Presente de Indicativo or El Presente de Subjuntivo.
See and listen to the following examples:
No sé qué me pasa; quizás estoy un poco nervioso.I don't know what is wrong with me; I may be a bit nervous.
No sé qué me pasa; quizás esté un poco nervioso.I don't know what is wrong with me; I may be a bit nervous.
Tal vez voy al concierto esta noche.I might go to the concert tonight.
Tal vez vaya 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 may not have passed.
Quizá Miguel no aprobara.Miguel may not have passed.
Quizá Miguel no ha aprobado.Miguel may not have passed.
Quizá Miguel no haya aprobado.Miguel may not 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 vez vaya a la playa mañana.I may go to the beach tomorrow.
Tal vez tengas la gripe.You may have the flu.
Quizás vuelva algún día.She/he may come back one day.
Quizás lleguemos tarde.We might be late.
Tal vez seáis felices algún día.You may be happy one day.
Tal vez quieran cenar tarde.They may want to have dinner late.
Quizás el vuelo se retrasó.The flight may have been delayed.
Tal vez los niños no fueron al colegio.The children may have 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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