may
HighNeutral to formal; formal for permission, neutral for possibility.
Definition
Meaning
A modal auxiliary verb used to express permission or possibility.
Also used to express a wish (optative) or in set phrases to convey concession or suggestion.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
For possibility, often interchangeable with 'might', with 'may' suggesting a slightly higher likelihood. For permission, more formal than 'can'. In optative use ('May you be happy'), it is formal/literary.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. In AmE, 'can' is more common for permission in informal contexts. In BrE, the formal distinction between 'may' (permission) and 'can' (ability) is more often maintained in writing and formal speech.
Connotations
In both, using 'may' for permission can sound polite or slightly old-fashioned. Using 'may' for possibility is neutral.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in BrE for permission in formal contexts; otherwise, comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
May + bare infinitive (e.g., may go)May + have + past participle (e.g., may have seen)May + be + present participle (e.g., may be working)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “may as well”
- “be that as it may”
- “come what may”
- “may the force be with you”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in formal requests and policy statements: 'Employees may take up to 20 days of annual leave.'
Academic
Used to express cautious possibility in scholarly writing: 'These findings may indicate a broader trend.'
Everyday
Used for polite requests and everyday uncertainty: 'May I borrow your pen?' 'It may rain later.'
Technical
Used in manuals or specifications to indicate optional or permitted actions: 'The user may restart the system.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You may park on the left after 6 pm.
- This may well be the best solution.
- May I make a suggestion?
American English
- You may park on the left after 6 p.m.
- This may very well be the best solution.
- May I use your restroom?
Examples
By CEFR Level
- May I have some water, please?
- The shop may be closed.
- It may rain today.
- You may need to show your passport at the border.
- She may have already left the office.
- May I ask where you're from?
- The new policy may adversely affect small businesses.
- He may well decide to decline the offer.
- Be that as it may, we must proceed as planned.
- The results, while inconclusive, may nonetheless point to a significant correlation.
- May you find every success in your future endeavours.
- One may argue that the premise itself is flawed.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of MAY I? as a polite, formal key to ask for permission.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSIBILITY IS A PATH (A door may be open). PERMISSION IS A GIVEN KEY (You may enter).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Confusing 'may' (formal permission/high possibility) with 'can' (ability/informal permission).
- Overusing 'может быть' (it may be) in contexts where a stronger modal like 'could' or a simple present tense is more natural.
- Misinterpreting 'may not' as a polite prohibition rather than an absence of certainty ('He may not come' vs 'He is not allowed to come').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'may' instead of 'might' for past reference (e.g., 'He said he may come' → should be 'might' in reported speech).
- Using 'may' in a question about possibility (e.g., 'May it be true?' is unusual; 'Could it be true?' is better).
- Using 'may' for strong logical deduction where 'must' is correct (e.g., 'He's not here, so he may be at home' → 'must be' if certain).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'may' used to express a wish (optative mood)?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Traditionally, 'may' suggests a slightly higher probability than 'might', but in modern usage they are often interchangeable. 'Might' is more common in hypothetical or past contexts ('I thought it might rain').
In informal contexts, 'can' is widely used and accepted for permission. However, in formal writing or situations requiring politeness, 'may' is preferred ('May I leave the room?' vs. informal 'Can I leave the room?').
Yes, but only in the structure 'may have + past participle' to express possibility about the past ('She may have forgotten the meeting'). For past permission, 'was/were allowed to' is used.
The distinction was prescribed by 19th-century grammarians, associating 'may' with permission and 'can' with ability. This prescriptive rule elevated 'may' to a marker of formal, educated speech, a convention that persists in formal registers.
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