Learn Chinese Grammar-"May, Maybe" – how to express possibility

Learn Chinese grammar with examples, get understanding of Chinese language! Here, we will give a simple introduction on how you describe a possible situation and/or action.
1.  可能(kĕnéng)
     In a sentence, 可能 is put ahead of "verb (+ noun)" structure, just like "May" in English.
     See the following example:
2.  他可能喜欢 数学。
     Tā kĕnéng xĭhuan shù xué.
     He perhaps/may likes math.
3.  我可能很快辞职。
     Wŏ kĕnéng hĕn kuài cízhí.
     I may soon quit (my job).
4.  不可能
     bù kĕnéng         
     "cannot, improbable to, unlikely to".
     Here, 不 is put ahead of 可能. It means the situation/action that follows is very unlikely happen. The negative sense is
     used toward to 可能 likelihood.  This is different from the case when 不 is put behind 可能, which will be explain later in this class.
5.  她不可能有三十岁。
     Tā bù kĕnéng yŏu sānshí suì.
     She cannot be 30 years old.
6.  我们不可能忘记这场比赛。
     Wŏmen bù kĕnéng wàngjì zhè chăng bĭsài.
     We can never forget this game.
7.  可能不
     Kĕ néng bù
     May not, perhaps not
     Compared with 不可能 in point 4, 不 is put behind 可能. It means the situation/action that follows is likely to happen in
     negative sense. The negative sense is used toward to the situation/action rather than 可能 likelihood.
8.  她可能没有三十岁。
     Tā kĕnéng méiyŏu sānshí suì.
     She may not be 30 years old. 
     *Compared with point 5., it shows a less degree of certainty because, again, negative sense is used toward '有' not '可能'.
9.  我们可能不会忘记这场比赛。
     Wŏmen kĕnéng bú huì wàngjì zhè chăng bĭsài.
     We may not forget this game.

---

Learn Chinese Grammar - Basic sentence pattern
As you begin learning Chinese, you will notice a few similarities between the structure of Chinese language and that of English. Yes, the basic sentence pattern "S-V-O" is same as that in English. Here are more examples, with the English rendered somewhat literally so that you can see the structure of the Chinese.
• S-V-O 我姓张。Wŏ xìng zhāng. I am surnamed Zhang.
• S-Adv-V-O 他也姓张。Tā yĕ xìng zhāng. He is also surnamed Zhang.
• S-V-O-吗 你姓张吗？ Nĭ xìng zhāng ma? Are you surnamed Zhang?

Examples:
1. S-V-O 我是美国人。Wŏ shì mĕi guó rén. I am American.
2. S-Adv-V-O 他也是美国人。Tā yĕ shì mĕi guó rén. He is also American.
3. S-V-O-吗 你是美国人吗？Nĭ shì mĕi guó rén ma? Are you American?
Easy, but is useful. You can use the sentence pattern when you introduce a friend.
Here is example:
A：您好，我是Peter，他是我的中国朋友丁力。
     Nín hăo, wŏ shì Peter, tā shì wŏ de Zhōngguó péngyou Dīng Lì.
     Hello, I am peter, he is my Chinese friend Dingli.
B：您好，我是David。
     Nín hăo, wŏ shì David.
     Hello, I am David.
S-V-O+吗 can express yes-or-no question.
Examples:

1. 他说汉语吗？  Tā shuō hànyŭ ma? Does he speak Chinese?
2. 你吃辣吗？  Nĭ chī là ma? Do you eat spicy food?

However, when we do not need "吗," if you want to ask question, you should know the below rules.

1). When you meet "X不X" structure, do not use "吗."
     For examples:
     他说不说汉语？ Tā shuō bu shuō hàn yŭ? Does she speak Chinese?
     你吃不吃辣？ Nĭ chī bu chī là? Do you eat spicy food?

2). When you use question words, do not use "吗."
     For examples:
     你叫什么名字？ Nĭ jiào shén me míngzi? What is your name?
     你吃什么菜？ Nĭ chī shén me cài? What food do you eat?
    "什么" is a question word, so you do not need "吗."

3). When you use "还是"(háishì, or) to express alternative question, do not use "吗."
     For examples:
     他说汉语还是英语？Tā shuō hànyŭ háishì yīng yŭ? Does he speak Chinese or English?
     你吃米饭还是面条？Nĭ chī mĭfàn háishì miàn tiáo? Do you eat rice or noodle?