Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Tal vez el gato no subirá, pero mañana lo sabré. - Maybe the cat will not go up, but tomorrow I will know it.

Tal vez translates as “perhaps” or “maybe,” indicating that something is possible but not certain. You can absolutely swap it with quizás (or quizá) in this sentence—both are correct and widely used in Latin American Spanish. Choice is mostly a matter of style or regional habit.

Why is the verb subirá in the future tense instead of the present (e.g., sube)?

Using the simple future (subirá) signals that the action of climbing will (or won’t) happen at a later time. While Spanish often uses the present tense for near‐future events (el gato no sube = “the cat’s not going up [soon]”), the future tense here underlines that you’re talking about what will (or won’t) occur down the road. It also carries a shade of speculation: “perhaps it won’t go up.”

Could I use the present subjunctive (suba) after tal vez? What’s the difference?

Yes. It’s common to say Tal vez el gato no suba, using the present subjunctive to express uncertainty.
– suba (subjunctive) = focus on possibility
– subirá (future indicative) = focus on a future outcome, slightly more emphatic about it happening or not
Both are grammatical; choosing one depends on whether you stress mere possibility (subjunctive) or a future judgment/probability (future indicative).

Why does sab-ré (mañana lo sabré) have an accent on the é?

In Spanish orthography, words ending in a vowel, n or s that carry stress on the last syllable must have a written accent. The simple future form sab-ré places stress on that final é, so the tilde marks it. All regular verbs in the simple future (yo subiré, tú subirás, él subirá, nosotros subiremos, vosotros subiréis, ellos subirán) follow the same pattern.

What does the pronoun lo refer to in mañana lo sabré?

Here lo is a neuter direct‐object pronoun standing in for “the fact” or “the outcome” of whether the cat goes up. In English, we might say “tomorrow I’ll know it,” where it is that entire idea. Spanish uses lo to capture abstract notions or entire clauses.

Why is the definite article used in el gato? In English we’d say “a cat.”

Spanish often uses the definite article with animals, especially if you’re talking about a specific or familiar one. El gato here implies a particular cat you and your listener know about. If you said un gato, it would sound like you’re introducing any random cat.

Could I say mañana lo voy a saber instead of mañana lo sabré?

Yes. Lo voy a saber uses the periphrastic (ir a + infinitive) future, which is very common in spoken Spanish for impending actions. Lo sabré is the simple future—slightly more formal or literary. Meaning is the same, but voy a saber feels more conversational.

Is the comma before pero always required?

When you connect two independent clauses (each with its own subject and verb), standard Spanish punctuation places a comma before pero. Here, Tal vez el gato no subirá is one clause, and pero mañana lo sabré is another. You could drop the comma in very informal writing, but it’s generally recommended to keep it.