Modal verb
The modal verb may
may · never changes
B1Meaning: to be possible; to be allowed to · Type: modal
Key points to remember
- Modal verb of possibility or permission
- Same form for everyone:
I/you/he/she/we/they may - Followed by the base form, with no to
- Negative:
may not
Conjugation of the modal verb may
Modal verbs never change: the same form for I / you / he / she / it / we / they, no -s in the 3rd person, and no to before the next verb.
Affirmative
subject + may + base form
- It may rain.
- May I come in?
Negative
subject + may not
- You may not enter.
- She may not come.
Question
may + subject + base form?
- May I help you?
- May we leave now?
There is no negative short form: always write may not (never mayn't). May is more formal than can.
How to use may
1. Talking about a possibility
May + verb means perhaps: She may be tired means perhaps she is tired.
- It may rain tomorrow.
- She may be tired.
2. Asking for or giving permission (formal)
May I…? is a polite, formal way to ask if something is allowed.
- May I come in?
- You may sit down.
3. Making a formal wish
At the start of a sentence, may expresses a wish. It is formal and quite rare.
- May you have a happy life.
Common mistakes to avoid
1. Thinking Can I…? is wrong ❌
Can I leave? is correct, too. May is more formal, and can is more common when you speak. May I leave? (formal) / Can I leave? (everyday). Both are correct.
2. Thinking may and might are very different ❌
May = a possibility that is a little more likely. Might = a possibility that is less certain. It may rain (perhaps) / It might rain (less sure). The difference is small.
3. You may to go ❌
After may, use the base form with no to: You may go ✓ / You may to go ✗.
Going further
Conjugating to may is a key skill in the English contest
Every year, the Big Challenge tests the key English verbs. Register your students so they can check their level in a real contest.
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Related pages: may
Pages on a similar topic or with a similar use, so you can keep exploring.
Frequently asked questions
How do you use may in English?+
May is a modal verb (a helper verb that goes before another verb). It shows possibility (It may rain means perhaps it will rain) or formal permission (May I come in?). After may, use the base form of the verb.
What is the difference between may and might?+
May = a possibility that is a little more likely. Might = a possibility that is less certain. It may rain (quite possible). It might rain (less sure). In practice, people often use them in the same way.
Is it may I or can I?+
Both are correct. May is more formal; can is more common when you speak. May I leave? (formal, for example to a teacher). Can I leave? (informal, to a friend).
What is the negative of may?+
Say may not. There is no common short form. It may not rain. To say that something is not allowed (formal): You may not leave the classroom.
What does may mean at the start of a sentence?+
At the start of a sentence, may can express a formal wish: May you have a happy life! It is a literary construction, found in books or speeches.
Updated on 12 November 2026 by the Big Challenge teaching team. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999. Our teaching approach →
The Big Challenge · Updated on 12 November 2026 · Source: www.thebigchallenge.com/bl/academy/learn-english/verbs/may
© The Big Challenge. Copying allowed for classroom use. Every year, more than 500,000 students across Europe take part in our English contest, created in 1999.