Modal verb may | Uses, examples and exercises

Definition of the modal verb may

Like most modal verbs, the modal verb may is an auxiliary verb and must always be accompanied by another verb with its own meaning and in the infinitive form (without to). In Spanish, its meaning is: ‘could’, ‘might’ or ‘perhaps’.

Examples:

I may play the piano when I get home. (Perhaps / Might play the piano when I get home).
May I phone you later? (Could I call you later?)
It may rain later on. (Perhaps / Might rain later).
He may not come tonight. (Perhaps / Might not come tonight).

How to conjugate the modal verb may

Let’s learn how to conjugate the modal verb may. Let’s get started!

Affirmative form

If what we want is to construct an affirmative sentence, we must first use the subject, followed by the modal verb may and the main verb in the infinitive form without to. It has the structure:

Subject + may + infinitive without to

Examples:

I may go out tonight. (Might go out tonight).
He may go to the park if the weather is nice. (Perhaps go to the park if the weather is nice).
My cousins may come to visit us this weekend. (Perhaps my cousins will come to visit us this weekend).

Negative form

To form a negative sentence we will add the particle not after the modal verb may. It has the structure:

>Subject + may not + infinitive without to

Examples:

I may not go out tonight. (Might not go out tonight).
He may not go to the park if it rains. (Perhaps not go to the park if it rains).
My cousins may not come to visit us this weekend. (Perhaps my cousins won’t come to visit us this weekend).

Interrogative form

To form a question, you should invert the position of the subject and the verb. It has the structure:

May + subject + infinitive without to

Examples:

May I phone you later? (Could I call you later?)
May he lend me his book? )(Could he lend me his book?)
May I talk to you? (Could I talk to you?)

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Use of the modal verb may

The modal verb may is mainly used to ask for permission or to indicate probability in the present or future. Below you will find a brief explanation and some examples to know how to use the modal verb may.

1- To ask for permission very politely

To ask for permission formally or politely we use the modal verb may in question form. Also, depending on the degree of formality, we can ask for permission using the modal verbs can or could. Could and may are more formal than can. May is more formal than could.

Examples:

Can I use your phone? (Can I use your phone?) (informal)
Could I ask you a question? (Could I ask you a question?) (more formal)
May I talk to you, please? (Could I talk to you, please?) (very formal)
May I phone you later? (Could I call you later?)
May I use your computer, please? (Could I use your computer, please?)

2- To indicate probability in the present and future

If we want to talk about situations that might happen in the present or future we will use the modal verb may.

Examples:

It may rain tomorrow. (Perhaps / Might rain tomorrow).
They may start working together. (Perhaps / Might start working together).
She may have dinner with me tonight. (Perhaps / Might have dinner with me tonight).

Depending on the level of probability we can also use the modal verb might. If the probability is high, we will use the modal verb may.

On the contrary, if the probability level is low we will use the modal verb might.

Examples:

High probability: I may go to the park tomorrow. (Perhaps go to the park tomorrow).
Low probability: I might go to the park tomorrow. (Perhaps go to the park tomorrow).

Although both sentences translate the same way, the listener will understand that the chances vary depending on whether the modal verb may or the modal verb might is used.

Let’s practice the use and form of the modal verb may with some exercises. We propose three types of exercises to familiarize yourself with using the modal verb may.

Practical exercises

A. Translate the following sentences into English using the modal verb may.

I may arrive late tonight.
Perhaps I’ll take the train.
Could you give me a glass of water, please?
I may not eat meat for dinner.
Maybe I’ll wait for my brother.
I may go out tonight

B. Arrange the words to form meaningful sentences.

cinema / may / I / the / go / tonight / to.
help / homework / May / you / I / the / ?
not / us / come / she / with / may.
tomorrow / to / Paris / we / drive / may.
please / sit / I / , / ? / May / here

C. Choose the correct option: may or might?

When I grow up, I (may / might) become a teacher. I love teaching!.
There is a small chance we (may / might) go out tonight because we must study.
There is a good chance that we (may / might) have to cook tonight. We are alone at home.
Tom and I (may / might) cook dinner tonight but I’m not sure about it.
The car (may / might) broke down. It’s very old and it hasn’t been serviced.
Who knows, I (may / might) win the lottery one day.
It (may / might) rain tonight, but I am not sure about it.