Focus on MAY: Possibility and permission.

often a PERMISSION (in casual language), we're going to study MAY, which really expresses

the POSSIBILITY of an action.  

1) MAY can express an action that is POSSIBLE for someone to do. In formal language, 

MAY can express a PERMISSION/ or an absence of PERMISSION or a POSSIBILITY.

a) - Yes, you may go out provided you come home early. (PERMISSION)

With that meaning, MAY has an equivalent (in the future) : TO BE ALLOWED TO

- You won't be allowed to go out after the beginning of the lesson.

- Visitors may not take photos.(absence of PERMISSION)

b) - She may come or not... You never know... (POSSIBILITY)

- She may not agree with you in the end.

2) The 'past' form of MAY, MIGHT, expresses a very uncertain possibility.

- I asked her if I might go before the end. (permission in the indirect style)

- I might arrive very late, depending on the traffic.

3) What about the past? 

MAY HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE // MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE.

- There may have been several explanations to the mystery...

- He might have met her before.

- She might have given up (she probably did) when she saw she had the wrong key.

Easy, isn't it? A little training will enable you to dominate this notion. 

The  test will help you. Go for it!   

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1. 'Is it possible for me to have a word with you? It won’t be long…’ >>' I may have a wordMay I have a wordI'll be able to have a wordI don't know with you? It won’t be long.’



2. 'You have a right to go whenever you want.’ >> You may have goneYou might have goneYou may goI don't know whenever you want.’



3. 'Do not imagine it’s going to be possible to keep your cell phone with you during your work.’ >> 'Do not imagine you'll be allowed to keepyou might keepyou'll be able to keepI don't know your cell phone with you during your work.’



4. 'He was probably trying to understand what was happening’>> He will be allowed to tryHe may have been tryingHe may be tryingI don't know to understand what was happening.’



5. Perhaps it will rain during the ceremony. Don’t forget to put two umbrellas in the car boot. >> It should rainIt's allowed to rainIt may rainI don't know during the ceremony. Don’t forget to put two umbrellas in the car boot.



6. 'Put another plate on the table. Perhaps Alan will stay for dinner.’>> 'Put another plate on the table. Alan may stayAlan will be allowed to stayIt's possible that Alan stayI don't know for dinner’



7. 'I really suppose Dave didn't arrive on time for work because he got up very late this morning..’>>’ Dave might not arriveDave was not allowed to arriveDave might not have arrivedI don't know on time for work because he got up very late this morning..’



8. 'Perhaps I have made mistakes in my essay... Can you proofread it for me, please...' >> ' I may have madeI am allowed to makeI may to have madeI don't know mistakes in my essay... Can you proofread it for me, please...'



9. Of course, she'll be late for the party, but now, perhaps she will arrive soon.' >> Of course, she'll be late for the party, but she might arriveshe maynot still arriveshe will not be able to agreeI don't know soon.



10. 'Perhaps she will not agree to do it, in the end.' >> ' May she be agreeShe will not be allowed to agreeShe may not agreeI don't know to do it, in the end.'