may (May I ...?)
may (May I ...?) means “may: formal permission (May I ...?) and possibility (It may rain)”. May + base verb has two jobs. Formation: may + base verb (same for all persons)
may: formal permission (May I ...?) and possibility (It may rain)
B1Formation
may + base verb (same for all persons)
Explanation
May + base verb has two jobs. First, it asks for or gives permission politely and formally: May I come in? You may leave now. It sounds more polite and formal than Can I ...? Second, it says something is possible: It may rain this afternoon. In this 'possible' sense may is close to might, but suggests slightly more certainty. The form never changes: he may, they may.
Examples
Note
The negative may not means 'is not allowed to' or 'possibly not', but it is not shortened to mayn't in modern English.
FAQ
may (May I ...?) — what does it mean and how is it used?
may: formal permission (May I ...?) and possibility (It may rain). May + base verb has two jobs. First, it asks for or gives permission politely and formally: May I come in? You may leave now. It sounds more polite and formal than Can I ...? Second, it says something is possible: It may rain this afternoon. In this 'possible' sense may is close to might, but suggests slightly more certainty. The form never changes: he may, they may.
may (May I ...?) — how do you form it?
may + base verb (same for all persons)
may (May I ...?) — any usage notes?
The negative may not means 'is not allowed to' or 'possibly not', but it is not shortened to mayn't in modern English.