Grammar | Modals - May

GRAMMAR

Modals: May

The contraction of may not is very rare. Avoid saying mayn't.

The construction of might not is common mightn't.

Uses : May has two possible uses :

1) Particular possibility ( he may be I = perhaps he is I'll ).

2) Permission ( he may.... = He is allowed to.... You may leave if you wish).

I) Particular Possibility:

May in the sense of particular possibility has four possible forms:

a) He may succeed. = Perhaps he succeed, perhaps he.

b) He might succeed. = Will succeed.

c) He may have succeeded. = Perhaps he succeeded, perhaps he has succeeded. ( Past ).

d) He might have succeeded. = 1- perhaps he succeeded/ he has succeeded.

= 2- he didn't succeeded, he hasn't succeeded.

- Ether MAY or MIGHT can be used to express possibility, however might is more doubtful.

A/ MAY/ MIGHT + infinitive express possibility in the present or the future:

Eg: - He may/ might show her the photograph ( perhaps he shows/ will show her ).

      - The newcomer may/ might catch up with the rest ( perhaps he catches/ will catch up.

      - May/ might in the sense of possibility can never introduce a sentence ( questions ).

Eg: - She my/ might move out before the end of the team. (Affirmative).

The interrogative form would normally be introduced by " Do you think.... ? Or a construction with likely ".

Eg: - Do you think she will more our before move out before the end of the team? Or it is likely that she will move out before the end of the team?.

B/ MAY/ MIGHT + perfect infinitive: has two different meanings:

1) perhaps the action took/ has taken place.

2) the action was possible but didn't take place.

Examples:

1- He may/ might have lost our address ( perhaps he lost/ has lost it).

She may/ might have been away for the weekend ( perhaps she was/ has been away for the week).

2- They sold the house. They should have waited a little bit longer. The might have made it better profit. ( They could have a better profit if they had waited a bit longer but they didn't, the action was possible but didn't take place ) May would be impossible here whereas Could can replace Might.

_ May/Might can be used in conditional sentences instead of will or would to indicate a possible instead of a certain result.

Eg: - I may/ might if you invite me = perhaps I will come if you invite me.

II) May to express Permission:

May in the sense of permission base two possible forms:

1) He may come = present or Future.

2) He might come = in questions/ reported speech in the past.

- Both May and Can could be used to express Permission, but May is more formal : You may leave now or you can leave now. The first example is more formal.

-' You might ' can be used to express Casual Command = an important imperative + will you ( this form can be used only between friends ).

- You might give me a left = give me a lift, will you.