may

[[t]meɪ[/t]]

♦

(May is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb.)

1) MODAL (vagueness) You use may to indicate that something will possibly happen or be true in the future, but you cannot be certain.

We may have some rain today...

Rates may rise, but it won't be by much and it won't be for long...

I may be back next year...

I don't know if they'll publish it or not. They may...

Scientists know that cancer may not show up for many years.

Syn:

might

2) MODAL (vagueness) You use may to indicate that there is a possibility that something is true, but you cannot be certain.

Civil rights officials say there may be hundreds of other cases of racial violence...

Throwing good money after bad may not be a good idea, they say.

Syn:

might

3) MODAL You use may to indicate that something is sometimes true or is true in some circumstances.

A vegetarian diet may not provide enough calories for a child's normal growth...

Up to five inches of snow may cover the mountains.

...families that may have both parents working.

Syn:

might

4) MODAL (vagueness) You use may have with a past participle when suggesting that it is possible that something happened or was true, or when giving a possible explanation for something.

He may have been to some of those places...

The chaos may have contributed to the deaths of up to 20 people...

Investigators say that a fuel explosion may have caused the crash...

The events may or may not have been connected.

Syn:

might have

5) MODAL You use may in statements where you are accepting the truth of a situation, but contrasting it with something that is more important.

I may be almost 50, but there's not a lot of things I've forgotten...

The elderly man may not be typical, but he speaks for a significant body of opinion...

Walking exercise may be boring at times but early on a clear sunny morning there can be nothing finer.

6) MODAL You use may when you are mentioning a quality or fact about something that people can make use of if they want to.

The bag has narrow straps, so it may be worn over the shoulder or carried in the hand...

Some of the diseases of middle age may be prevented by improving nutrition.

Syn:

can

7) MODAL You use may to indicate that someone is allowed to do something, usually because of a rule or law. You use may not to indicate that someone is not allowed to do something.

Any two persons may marry in Scotland provided that both persons are at least 16 years of age on the day of their marriage...

Adolescents under the age of 18 may not work in jobs that require them to drive.

8) MODAL You use may when you are giving permission to someone to do something, or when asking for permission. [FORMAL]

Mr Hobbs? May we come in?...

If you wish, you may now have a glass of milk...

`You may leave.' - `Yes, sir.'

Syn:

can

9) MODAL (politeness) You use may when you are making polite requests. [FORMAL]

I'd like the use of your living room, if I may...

May I come with you to Southampton?...

Ah, Julia, my dear, here is our guest. May we have some tea?

Syn:

can

10) MODAL (politeness) You use may, usually in questions, when you are politely making suggestions or offering to do something. [FORMAL]

May we suggest you try one of our guest houses...

May we recommend a weekend in Stockholm?...

Do sit down. And may we offer you something to drink?...

May I help you?

Syn:

can

11) MODAL (politeness) You use may as a polite way of interrupting someone, asking a question, or introducing what you are going to say next. [FORMAL, SPOKEN]

`If I may interrupt for a moment,' Kenneth said...

Anyway, may I just ask you one other thing?...

If I may return to what we were talking about earlier.

Syn:

can

12) MODAL You use may when you are mentioning the reaction or attitude that you think someone is likely to have to something you are about to say.

You know, Brian, whatever you may think, I work hard for a living...

You may consider it useless, but for our customers it's an all-important sign of good service.

13) MODAL (emphasis) You use may in expressions such as I may add and I may say in order to emphasize a statement that you are making.

They spent their afternoons playing golf - extremely badly, I may add - around Loch Lomond...

Both of them, I may say, are thoroughly reliable men.

14) MODAL If you do something so that a particular thing may happen, you do it so that there is an opportunity for that thing to happen.

...the need for an increase in the numbers of surgeons so that patients may be treated as soon as possible...

The door is shut so that no one may overhear what is said.

Syn:

can

15) MODAL: MODAL n v People sometimes use may to express hopes and wishes. [FORMAL]

Courage seems now to have deserted him. May it quickly reappear.

16) be that as it may → see be

may as well → see well