Modals of Possibility - May

Verbs

A Modal Verb is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that has no meaning on its own but it modifies the main verb, changes its meaning and gives more details about action.

May is a type of auxiliary modal verb used to talk about the possibility for something to happen and also to ask for or give permission.

May has always the same form, even for the third person.We usually find this structure in its three forms:

Affirmative

The Affirmative form of the verb May have this structure:
Subject + may + verb.

SUBJECT	MAY	VERB
I/You	may	work
He/She/It	may	work
We/You/They	may	work

Negative

The Negative form of the verb May has this structure:
Subject + may + not + verb.

SUBJECT	MAY + NEGATION	VERB (infinitive)
I/You	may not	work
He/She/It	may not	work
We/You/They	may not	work

Interrogative

The Interrogative form of the verb May has this structure:
May + subject + verb + …?

MAY	SUBJECT	VERB	QUESTION MARK
May	I/you	work	…?
May	he/she/it	work	…?
May	we/you/they	work	…?

Affirmative

Permission
- You may take this plate.
- She may answer the phone.
- They may travel by plane.
Uncertainty/possibility
- I’m afraid I may be late.
- Susana may come to see you tomorrow.
- There may be too many people at the post office.
Express wish or hope
- May the force be with you.
- May you both be happy together.
- May we have rain this year.

Negative

You may not answer the phone call!
She may not leave a message.
I’m afraid that we may not interview the director.

Interrogative

May I answer an important phone call?
May she leave you a message?
May we interview the director?

We use May in the Affirmative form when we:

Give permission;
Are not sure about something;
Express wish or hope.

We use May in the Negative form when we prohibit something or to express uncertainty.

We use May in Interrogative form when we want to make a polite request.

We use the modal verb May to talk about the possibility for something to happen and also to ask for or give permission. Negative form expresses prohibition and Interrogative form is used for polite requests.

Affirmative: Subject + may + verb;
Negative: Subject + may + not + verb;
Interrogative: May + subject + verb + …?

For example:
— “It may snow this winter.” = Using the Affirmative form we express that there’s the possibility for something to happen.
— “It may not snow this winter.” = Using the Negative form we express that an event is uncertain.
— “May it snow this winter?” = Using the Interrogative form we ask if something is possible to happen.

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