# Quizás and tal vez: choosing the mood

> id: grammar.subjunctive.quizas-tal-vez · category: grammar · depth: standard · levels: B2 · review: internally_reviewed

**Summary.** Before the verb, quizá(s)/tal vez take subjunctive or indicative by confidence: quizás venga (who knows) vs quizás viene (probably). A lo mejor: always indicative.

With quizá(s) and tal vez ('maybe, perhaps') placed before the verb, the mood works as a confidence dial. The subjunctive sounds more tentative; the indicative sounds more likely: quizás sea verdad ('it might be') vs quizás es verdad ('it probably is'); tal vez venga vs tal vez viene.

Position matters: when quizás/tal vez comes after the verb, only the indicative is possible — viene mañana, quizás; es caro, tal vez.

Neighbouring expressions differ. The colloquial a lo mejor and (in Spain) igual never take the subjunctive: a lo mejor llueve, igual nos vemos. But puede que is always subjunctive: puede que llegue tarde, puede que tengas razón.

## Examples
- Tal vez cambien las reglas el año que viene. — Maybe the rules will change next year.
- A lo mejor nos vemos el sábado. — Maybe we'll see each other Saturday. *(Indicative only.)*
- Tal vez cambien las reglas, pero a lo mejor no pasa nada. — Maybe the rules will change, but perhaps nothing will happen.

Related: grammar.adverbs.affirmation-negation-doubt, grammar.subjunctive.doubt-denial

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