may

may — modal verb

1. shows that something has a chance of happening or being true, though you are not

1.modal verbA2
Definition

shows that something has a chance of happening or being true, though you are not completely sure about it; you present your statement as a possibility rather than a certainty.

Example

The train from Glasgow may arrive late because of the heavy snow on the tracks.

may + base verb: suggesting a real possibility

Sofia may not come to the party tonight since she has a bad cold.

negative form: may not

Common collocations
  • may well
  • may yet
  • may not
Synonyms
  • might

    suggests a lower probability or more tentative possibility than may

  • could

    suggests a general or theoretical possibility, often less formal

  • can

    suggests a general truth or theoretical possibility; less tentative than may

Antonyms
  • cannot

    expresses impossibility rather than possibility

  • may not

    denies the possibility: it is possible that something will NOT happen

Grammar Patterns

may + base verb

may + be

may + not + base verb

may well + base verb

Usage Note

Compare with might (which suggests less certainty) and can (which suggests a general truth or ability). In everyday speech, many British speakers prefer might for possibility, while may sounds slightly more formal or written-register.

Common Mistakes

She may comes to the meeting.
She may come to the meeting.
After the modal may, always use the base form of the main verb, never the third-person singular -s form.
It may to rain later.
It may rain later.
Do not add to after may; the modal is followed directly by the base verb.

2. used to politely ask whether you are allowed to do something, or to tell someone

2.modal verbB1
Definition

used to politely ask whether you are allowed to do something, or to tell someone that they have permission to do it — for example, a child asking a teacher May I get a drink of water? or a sign saying visitors may park in the lot behind the building.

Example

May I borrow your pen for a moment to write down this address?

May I + verb: polite request for permission

You may leave the classroom once you have finished the exam.

You may + verb: granting permission

Common collocations
  • May I
  • you may
  • may not
Synonyms
  • can

    less formal and more common in everyday spoken requests

  • could

    more hesitant or tentative than may, common in polite British requests

  • be allowed to

    explicit rather than modal; useful when tense or non-modal structure is needed

Antonyms
  • may not

    refuses or denies permission

  • must not

    stronger refusal: expresses prohibition rather than lack of permission

  • cannot

    common informal way to refuse permission

Grammar Patterns

May + subject + base verb?

You may + base verb

subject + may not + base verb

Usage Note

More formal than can for permission. In casual everyday conversation, native speakers typically use can (Can I borrow your pen?). May I is considered the most polite and correct choice in formal situations, with teachers, or with strangers.

Common Mistakes

May I to go to the bathroom?
May I go to the bathroom?
Do not add to after may; the main verb follows directly.
You may can leave early.
You may leave early.
Do not combine two modals. May already expresses permission; can is unnecessary.

3. expresses a strong hope or desire that something good will happen for someone —

3.modal verbB2
Definition

expresses a strong hope or desire that something good will happen for someone — used in fixed blessing-like expressions such as May you have a long and happy life together or May peace be with you.

Example

May your wedding day be filled with joy and surrounded by the people you love.

May + subject + base verb: blessing formula

The old woman smiled and said, 'May your journey home be safe.'

Common collocations
  • May you
  • May your
  • May the
Synonyms
  • hope

    more common in everyday English; follows normal sentence order (I hope you...)

  • let

    in phrases like let there be, let peace reign; similar wishful force but different grammar

Grammar Patterns

May + subject + base verb!

Usage Note

This sense follows a distinct inversion pattern: May + subject + base verb — it does NOT follow the usual subject + auxiliary order. It is mainly used in formal blessings, toasts, ceremonial wishes, and some fixed expressions. In everyday speech, I hope is far more common.

Common Mistakes

You may have a good day.' (when meaning a wish)
May you have a good day.
The wish sense requires inversion: May + subject + verb. Without inversion, the sentence reads as permission or possibility, not a wish.
Idioms

be that as it may

idiom

This phrase is used to accept that something is true but then introduce a different point that makes it less important.

The hotel was expensive; be that as it may, the service was excellent.

Be that as it may, we still need to finish the project on time.

may/might (just) as well do something

idiom

This phrase suggests that doing a particular action is the best choice in the current situation, even if it is not ideal.

Since we have an hour before the movie, we may as well get coffee.

The bus is late again, so we might as well walk to school.

may — noun

Word family

  • might
    modal verbB1
  • maybe
    adverbA2
  • mayoral
    adjectiveC1
  • mayflower
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: modal verb/1

May, might, could, and can all express possibility, but they differ in degree of certainty and register. May suggests a real but uncertain possibility (It may rain tonight — about 50% chance) and is slightly formal in British English. Might is more tentative and often suggests a lower probability (It might rain, but I doubt it). Could indicates a general or theoretical possibility, often in neutral statements (It could rain at any time in April). Can describes what is generally true or possible by nature (It can rain a lot in this region — a factual statement about climate). In short: may = moderate possibility, slightly formal; might = lower possibility, more hesitant; could = theoretical or neutral; can = general truth. For example: 'The key may be in the drawer (I think it is possible). The key might be in the drawer (I am less sure). The key could be anywhere (any location is theoretically possible). A key can open a lock (general fact about keys).'

may ↗might ↗could ↗can ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

  • well (may well)
  • just (may just)
  • still (may still)
  • yet (may yet)

Phrases

Etymology

Proto-Indo-EuropeanProto-GermanicOld EnglishEnglish

May comes from Old English mæg, the first-person singular present indicative of magan ('to be able, to have power'). Magan traces back through Proto-Germanic *maganą to the Proto-Indo-European root *magʰ- ('to be able, to have power'), which also gave rise to the Latin word magister ('master') and the English words might and machine. The modal uses of may (possibility, permission, wish) all developed from this original sense of personal ability: what one 'can do' became what one 'is allowed to do' and what one 'hopes will happen.' The noun May (the month) has a completely separate origin — it comes from Latin Maius, the month of the goddess Maia, associated with spring growth. The botanical may (hawthorn blossom) got its name because the flowers bloom in the month of May.