{"id":5396,"date":"2016-05-03T09:00:07","date_gmt":"2016-05-03T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=5396"},"modified":"2016-03-07T22:20:57","modified_gmt":"2016-03-08T03:20:57","slug":"using-the-word-may-in-may","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/using-the-word-may-in-may\/","title":{"rendered":"Using the word \u2018may\u2019 in May"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>

Image by Luz Adriana Villa
on Flickr.com licensed under CC BY 2.0.<\/p><\/div>\n

Since we have just entered the month of May I thought I\u2019d take this opportunity to talk about this month\u2019s homophone the other word \u2018may\u2019. The month of May is a proper noun, but the \u2018may\u2019 I want to talk about today is a modal verb.<\/p>\n

The auxiliary modal verb \u2018may\u2019 is (generally) used for three purposes:
\ngranting permission <\/em>
\nmaking polite requests<\/em>
\nexpressing a possibility<\/em><\/p>\n

Here are three examples using \u2018may\u2019 in sentences. These three examples show the ways the word \u2018may\u2019 is used as outlined above.<\/p>\n

You may<\/strong> buy something, if you wish, but you can only spent $5.00. (granting permission <\/em>)
\nMay<\/strong> I sit here? (making polite requests<\/em>)
\nIt may<\/strong> rain tomorrow. (expressing a possibility<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Learning to use auxiliary verbs correctly is not the easiest thing to do in English, but once you do learn how to use auxiliary verbs, another problem pops up \u2013 which auxiliary verb should you use in which context? There is often confusion about the difference between the auxiliaries: may<\/strong>, can<\/strong>, and might<\/strong>. So, let\u2019s take a look how at these three auxiliary verbs, with special focus on \u2018may\u2019 \u2013 because it is May!<\/p>\n

Here are some helpful hints to keep straight how may, can, and might are intended to be used.<\/p>\n

The word \u2018can\u2019 is used to express ability<\/em>, whereas the word \u2018may\u2019 is used to express permission<\/em>. Here are two examples illustrating this difference:<\/p>\n

Can<\/strong> you lift that 25 lb. box?
\n(Do you have the ability<\/em> to lift the box?)<\/p>\n

May<\/strong> I have a cookie?
\n(Am I permitted<\/strong> to have a cookie?)<\/p>\n

In real life, most English speakers use the word \u2018can\u2019 for both ability and permission. \u2018Can\u2019 is used this way mostly in informal settings, but \u2018may\u2019 is still only used for permission (not ability) in these situation.<\/p>\n

Can<\/strong> you lift that 25 lb. box?
\nNot: May you lift that 25 lb box?<\/del>
\nCan<\/strong> I have a cookie?<\/p>\n

In a formal setting or in polite company, you should use \u2018may\u2019 for permission in questions and granting permission in answers.<\/p>\n

You may<\/strong> go. (granting permission<\/em>)
\nMay<\/strong> I smoke? (permission<\/em>)<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s look at \u2018may\u2019 and \u2018might\u2019. The auxiliary verbs \u2018may\u2019 and \u2018might\u2019 are both ways of expressing possibility, granting permission, and making polite requests. They can be used interchangeable, except that \u2018may\u2019 is generally used in the present tense and \u2018might\u2019 is generally used when talking about something in the past tense. Here are some examples:<\/p>\n

You may<\/strong> go home early if you have finished all your work. (present tense<\/em>)
\nJames might<\/strong> have gone home early if he already finished all his work. (past tense<\/em>)<\/p>\n

The \u201cofficial\u201d difference between \u2018may\u2019 and \u2018might\u2019 is based on the tense of the verb, but of course there is some flexibility between official use and practical use. In actuality many native English speakers interchange \u2018may\u2019 and \u2018might\u2019 on a regular basis regardless of the tense they are using \u2013 to native English speakers both words = possibility.<\/p>\n

For example:
\nI may<\/strong> leave early if I\u2019m not feeling well.
\nI might<\/strong> leave early if I\u2019m not feeling well.<\/p>\n

There is a distinction between \u2018may have\u2019 and \u2018might have\u2019 that you should know about because it is pretty consistent. If the truth about a situation happening is unknown at the time of speaking or writing, either \u2018may have\u2019 or \u2018might have\u2019 is acceptable. If a situation did not actually occur, or the truth of what actually happened is unknown, it is always better to use \u2018might have\u2019.<\/p>\n

Here are some examples:
\nWhat the president said may have<\/strong> offended people.<\/p>\n

What the president said might have<\/strong> offended people.<\/p>\n

If<\/em> the president had said that it might have<\/strong> offended people.<\/p>\n

Enjoy practicing the use of \u2018may\u2019 this May and be sure to ask any questions you have about using this auxiliary verb in the comment area below.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Since we have just entered the month of May I thought I\u2019d take this opportunity to talk about this month\u2019s homophone the other word \u2018may\u2019. The month of May is a proper noun, but the \u2018may\u2019 I want to talk about today is a modal verb. The auxiliary modal verb \u2018may\u2019 is (generally) used for…<\/p>\n

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