The word "may" is a modal verb that is used to express possibility, permission, or possibility in the future. It is often used in conjunction with other verbs to indicate that something is possible or permitted, or to ask for permission to do something.
For example, "I may go to the store later" indicates that it is possible that the speaker will go to the store later. "You may leave early if you finish your work" indicates that it is permitted for the listener to leave early if they finish their work. "May I borrow your pen?" is a request for permission to borrow the pen.
In addition to expressing possibility or permission, "may" can also be used to express a possibility in the future. For example, "It may rain tomorrow" indicates that there is a possibility that it will rain tomorrow.
Overall, the word "may" is a useful tool for expressing a range of concepts related to possibility, permission, and the future. It is an important part of the English language and is used frequently in a variety of contexts. So, we can define "may" as a modal verb that expresses possibility, permission, or possibility in the future.
May (month)
You may have been right. The use of may with if in constructions such as: your analysis may have been more credible if … is generally regarded as incorrect, might being preferred: your analysis might have been more credible if … may meɪ Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. He may be here, I don't know. They can also be used to make a request, to ask permission, or to make a suggestion. Her weight may have gone down. ¬¬One possible legal position, T1, represents complete freedom an agent is permitted to bring about p, to bring about p, or to do nothing to p at all , and another position, T5, represents a specific obligation permitted to bring about p, but not permitted to bring about p or to remain passive.
Modal Auxiliary Verbs
Difficult as it may seem, I know it can be done. He may have been here, but we cannot be sure. May you live a long and happy life. In conversation, the negative form mightn't is often used instead of 'might not'. Meidag يَوم أوَّل أيّار Първи Май Primeiro de maio svátek práce der 1. The modal verb may is used to ask, grant, or describe permission; to politely offer to do something for someone; to express the possibility of something happening or occurring; or to express a wish or desire that something will be the case in the future.
may
The form mayn't is much less common. One possible legal position, T , represents complete freedom an agent is permitted to bring about , to bring about, or to do nothing to at all , and another position, T , represents a specific obligation permitted to bring about, but not permitted to bring about or to remain passive. Which of the following sentences uses may to express possibility or likelihood? However, if something did not happen and you want to say that there was a possibility of it happening, you can only use might have or could have. Usage: It was formerly considered correct to use may rather than can when referring to permission as in: you may use the laboratory for your experiments, but this use of may is now almost entirely restricted to polite questions such as: may I open the window? Long may the banner wave. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. May we have a word with you? For example, you say 'If he hadn't fallen, he might have won the race'.