may

See also May

may is on the Basic English 850 List.

mass - may - meal

may is one of the 1000 most common headwords.

matter - may - maybe

Pronunciation

• enPR: mā, IPA ^(key): /meɪ̯/
• SAMPA: /meI/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Verb

Present may

Past might

Negative none

1. (modal) To be allowed to; to have permission to do something

   "May I sit here?" "Yes, go ahead. The seat is empty."

   You may not smoke, this area is "no smoking".

2. (modal) If you say something may happen or may be true, you mean there is a chance that it is true.

   He may be lying, but I'm not sure.

   It may rain today.

Usage

May is a modal auxiliary verb.

• It is followed by a verb in the plain form.
  • For example, you say, "He may go to the store."
  • You do NOT say "He may goes/went/going/to go to the store."

• It is not used with other modal verbs.
  • For example, you say, "You will be allowed to use the car tonight."
  • You do NOT say "You will may use the car tonight."