may*/*/*/

[meɪ]

modal verb summary: ■ May is usually followed by an infinitive without ‘to': It may rain. ■ Sometimes it is used without a following infinitive: I'd like to make one or two comments, if I may. ■ May has no tenses, no participles, and no infinitive form. It does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s': He may arrive this afternoon. ■ Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do': May I make a suggestion? ♦ She may not understand.

1) used for saying that something is possibly true, or that something will possibly happen

I may not be able to play on Saturday.[/ex]

The injury may have caused brain damage.[/ex]

What you say may very well be true (= it is fairly likely).[/ex]

2) used for saying or asking whether something is allowed

May I use your phone?[/ex]

Visitors may use the swimming pool between 5.30 and 7.30 pm.[/ex]

3) spoken

used when making a polite request or offer

May I see your ticket, please?[/ex]

May we offer you a glass of wine?[/ex]

See:

can