Talk:may

May is described as an adverb here. When I started learning English about 30 years ago I was told that may is a verb, albeit a special one (to may doesn't exist). AFAIK that hasn't changed. What happened to the English language when I was not watching? :-) D.D. 20:34 Jan 1, 2003 (UTC)

You're right. Eclecticology

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May I ask what the **** frectel and schnock mean?

Webkid 19:02, 13 Dec 2003 (UTC)

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may

Tagged, not listed. Etym 3: verb. --Connel MacKenzie 13:22, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

The legitimate entry would be for a-Maying, possibly in Middle English. Chaucerian. Not sure what the lemma form would be. DCDuring TALK 16:37, 7 February 2008 (UTC)

Past tense

In what contexts is might used as the past tense of may? What I mean is: You may smoke means "you're allowed to smoke", but can you might smoke mean "you were allowed to smoke"?? I'm not saying that "might" is not a form of the verb "may". It is. But is it really the past tense?

• "It might have been." seems to be a past tense usage. (but "It may have been." seems to convey the same meaning.) SemperBlotto (talk) 19:40, 20 February 2014 (UTC)
• Go to might and look at sense 2 and 3. Ƿidsiþ 18:16, 24 February 2014 (UTC)

"He may be slow..."

Consider the sentence "He may be slow, but he is strong".
There is no irrealis sense of possibility or probability or permission in this sentence. It is saying the person is slow, but despite that, they are strong.
This use of the word "may" doesn't seem to match up with any of the definitions given... I guess it could count as "concession" under the "Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark" definition, but I feel it deserves its own entry.
It seems to be used to mark a clause as contrasting with another one which is true despite it.
--AndreRD (talk) 19:31, 6 February 2018 (UTC)

(formal, literary) I hope he may/might succeed

Should the following be mention? (formal, literary) I hope he may/might succeed --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:03, 6 October 2019 (UTC)

may /meɪ/ vb (past might) 6. another word for might1

moughtn't

Any reason for moughtn't not to be added? it's mentioned in mightn't --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:51, 17 October 2019 (UTC)

pragmatic strengthening

According to the Cambridge Grammar of the English Language, page 177,

You may leave now, as used in the context of a boss talking to a secretary, will be construed as an instruction, not mere permission: pragmatic strengthening. --Backinstadiums (talk) 09:00, 18 October 2019 (UTC)

Water can/may still get in

The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language , page 184, reads

May is virtually excluded instead of can in water can still get in, partly by the likelihood of it being interpreted epistemically rather than dynamically.

However, I cannot grasp any different effective meaning between both versions. --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:10, 18 October 2019 (UTC)

inversion

May I say a word of thanks to all those who helped today.
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/may_1

What does the subject inversion mean in this sentence? --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:00, 28 April 2020 (UTC)

To be obliged

To be obliged, as where rules of construction or legal doctrine call for a specified interpretation of a word used in a law or legal document
https://ahdictionary.com/word/search.html?q=may

--Backinstadiums (talk) 17:21, 28 July 2020 (UTC)

(LAW) shall; must --Backinstadiums (talk) 08:52, 31 July 2021 (UTC)

Might suggests a lower probability than may

Might suggests a lower probability than may because of its use in hypothetical statements that omit the conditional clause (You might get there on time can be thought of as short for If you hurried, you might). --Backinstadiums (talk) 19:08, 29 July 2021 (UTC)

You never use 'may' when you are asking if something is possible, but might/could. --Backinstadiums (talk) 10:08, 29 August 2021 (UTC)

Pronunciation (verb): unstressed mɛ

Unstressed mɛ --Backinstadiums (talk) 15:44, 28 August 2021 (UTC)