莫非 (could it be that …?)
IntroducedAn absence leads to a tentative guess
- A friend is very late. You wonder whether they forgot the meeting.
- he / him他still / also还not / haven't没to come来，could it be莫非forget忘(completed / change)了(concept of) time时间？ — The speaker offers a possible explanation with surprise.
Locate the pattern in real examples
- could it be莫非 (could it be that …?): could it be莫非you你forget忘(completed / change)了we / us我们(modifier / structural particle)的to agree on sth (after…约定?; he / him他to / arrive到now现在still / also还not不to come来,could it be莫非variant of 出 (classifier…出(completed / change)了what什么matter事?
- Read the whole clause before choosing a translation. The examples show the pattern in use; the context below determines what the speaker claims.
A friend is very late. You wonder whether they forgot the meeting. What does 他还没来，莫非忘了时间？ communicate?
The speaker offers a possible explanation with surprise. 莫非 is a guess, not confirmation. A following question or reply may test it. 既然忘了时间 would treat the forgetting as established instead.
Follow the speaker
could it be莫非you你forget忘了？
- In the opening situation: he / him他still / also还not / haven't没to come来，could it be莫非forget忘(completed / change)了(concept of) time时间？
- The speaker offers a possible explanation with surprise.
Using the pattern named in this lesson: Could it be that you forgot? ____ 你忘了?
莫非 + clause? = could it be that …?: 莫非你忘了?
莫非 half-expects the guess to be true.
Yes — a worried “could it be …?”.
Check the limit of the explanation
- could it be莫非 is a guess, not confirmation.
- A following question or reply may test it. since既然forget忘(completed / change)了(concept of) time时间 would treat the forgetting as established instead.
The speaker knows for certain that the friend forgot the time.
莫非 is a guess, not confirmation. A following question or reply may test it. 既然忘了时间 would treat the forgetting as established instead. The speaker offers a possible explanation with surprise.
Repair the form before interpreting it
- The form do not莫(completed / change)了to not be非forget忘(completed / change)了(concept of) time时间 needs repair here. Write could it be莫非forget忘(completed / change)了(concept of) time时间 instead; keep the word or frame in its demonstrated order.
- Form and meaning are separate checks. After the repair, explain the sentence in its situation rather than treating a familiar translation as a universal rule.
Rewrite the demonstrated repair exactly: 莫了非忘了时间
The demonstrated form is 莫非忘了时间. The speaker offers a possible explanation with surprise.
Keep the distinction
- The speaker offers a possible explanation with surprise. Check the relevant speaker, time or group in the surrounding context.
- could it be莫非 is a guess, not confirmation. A following question or reply may test it. since既然forget忘(completed / change)了(concept of) time时间 would treat the forgetting as established instead.
Read the full reference: HSK 6 grammar — Sentence patterns.
莫非 voices…
莫非 offers a surprised possibility, not certainty. The guess need not be negative: 莫非这就是好运?
A friend is very late. You wonder whether they forgot the meeting. Close the examples. Say a Mandarin response, then write it in Chinese. Explain briefly in English what the lesson’s pattern adds. Compare with the model, then change one detail and try again.
This is supported productive practice. Compare meaning and structure; your answer need not copy the model. A partner or teacher must hear the spoken response to comment on pronunciation.