may
modal verb
uk/meɪ/us/meɪ/maymodal verb(POSSIBILITY)
A2
used toexpresspossibility:
（表示可能性）可能，也许There may be otherproblemsthat we don'tknowabout.可能有我们不知道的其他问题。
I mayseeyoutomorrowbefore Ileave.明天我走前也许还能见到你。
Thecauseof theaccidentmay never bediscovered.事故的原因也许永远无法查清。
Theexplosionmay have beencausedby afaultyelectricalconnection.爆炸可能是由电路连接错误引起的。
We'dbetternotinterfere- she may not like it.我们最好别干涉——她可能会不高兴。
There may be someevidencetosuggestshe'sguilty,butit'shardlyconclusive.也许有迹象显示她有罪，但不怎么令人信服。
Compare
mightmodal verb(POSSIBILITY)
- If used ondelicateskin, thiscreammayproduceastingingsensation.
- People whosufferastrokemayexperiencealossofspeech.
- Thisafternoonwe mayseesomewintryshowersoverhigherground.
- We may have tosellthehouse, but Ihopeit won't come to that.
- Iworryabout thedestructiveeffectthatviolentfilmsmay have onchildren.
Achievable
- able
- accomplishable
- achievable
- attainable
- doable
- feasibility
- feasibility study
- feasible
- feasibly
- humanly
- manageable
- might
- poss
- possible
- practicability
- practicable
- practical
- reach
- running
- viably
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Possible and probable
maymodal verb(PERMISSION)
B1formal
used toaskor givepermission:
（用于请求许可或表示允许）可以Areadermayborrowup to sixbooksat any onetime.读者一次最多可借阅6本书。
"May Ihelpmyself to some morefood?" "Yes, ofcourse."“我能再取些吃的吗？”“好的，当然可以。”
Hi, my name's Tiffany. How may Ihelpyou?“你好，我叫蒂法尼，能帮你做些什么吗？”
Compare
mightmodal verb(PERMISSION)
- Hello, may Ispeakto Ken Griffeysenior,please?
- "Higgins, you may go now." "Very good,sir."
- Now a round ofquick-firequestions- the firstpersontopresstheirbuzzermayanswer.
- Askyourteacherif you maysitat thefrontof theclassuntilyourglassesarerepaired.
- Excuse me - is this someone'sseat, or may Isithere?
Allowing and permitting
- admission
- admit
- admit ofsomething
- allow ofsomething
- allowable
- authorization
- authorize
- clearance
- entrance
- given the chance/choiceidiom
- green-light
- hall pass
- imprimatur
- left
- liberty
- relicense
- relicensure
- say-so
- security clearance
- seeyourway (clear) todoing somethingidiom
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Polite expressions
maymodal verb(WISH)
formal
used tointroduceawishor ahope:
（表示祝愿或希望）祝，愿May you have alongandfruitfulmarriage.祝你们婚姻长久美满。
Wanting things
- ache forsomething
- acquisitive
- ambitious
- ambitiously
- angle
- angle forsomething
- desperate
- fancy
- hanker after/forsomething
- haveyoureye onsomethingidiom
- hunger
- hunger after/forsomething
- pine
- setyourheart onsomething/doing somethingidiom
- setyoursights onsomethingidiom
- shook
- sight
- someone'sheart's desireidiom
- straw
- super-ambitious
Grammar
Can,couldormay: typical errors
…May
…May: forms
…May: uses
…Maybeormay be?
We use maybe and may be to talk about possibility. They are often confused because we use them both when we think that something is possible but we are not certain.…Maybeas an adverb
Maybe /ˈmeɪbi/ is an adverb and it means the same as perhaps. It is written as one word:…May be
In the phrase may be /meɪ bi:/ may is a modal verb and be is a main or auxiliary verb. Here may and be are two separate words, whereas maybe is one word:…Idioms
be that as it may
may I ask
may well
may
noun[U]
uk/meɪ/us/meɪ/(alsomay blossom)theflowersof thehawthorntree
山楂花
Neil Holmes/Photolibrary/GettyImages
Flowers & flowering plants
- anemone
- antirrhinum
- aster
- astilbe
- aubretia
- dandelion
- delphinium
- dog rose
- dogwood
- edelweiss
- lily of the valley
- locoweed
- lotus
- lupin
- mallow
- sunflower
- sweet pea
- tulip
- unscented
- verbena
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Flowers - general words