[情态动词]表示可能性或允许:I may be late this evening. The brakes may have failed.
You may sit down if you like. May I use your phone?
语法结构
1 may | + 不带to的不定式
The train may be late.
I may vote 'yes'. On the other hand I may not.
It may be snowing when you get there.
表示现在或将来的可能性
May I use your bathroom?~Of course,you may.
征求和给予许可(比 can,could更加正式)
2 may | + not | + 不带to的不定式
I may not be able to come to class on Friday.
Don't give them raw fish:they may not like it.
表示现在或将来的怀疑和不确定性
You may not take photos during the service.
Passengers are reminded that they may not smoke inside the terminal building.
(正式地)拒绝许可
3 may | ( + not) | + have | + 过去分词
Fiona's not here.She may have gone to lunch.
George may not have known about the party:that's maybe why he didn't come.
表示过去的可能性
4 it | + may | + be | + that分句
I'm hopeless at languages.~It may be that you've never tried.
The TV won't work.~It may be that it's not plugged in.
表示事情发生的可能的原因
搭配
下列副词经常和may一起使用:(very)well,(very)possibly,conceivably,(very)easily.
Liverpool may well win.(=there's a strong possibility 有很大的可能性)
They may very easily have been delayed.
She may very possibly have left the country.
Interest rates may conceivably fall even lower.(=there's a weak possibility 可能性很小)
固定短语
'may as well...'不妨...倒不如...
We may as well go home:there's nothing happening here.
You may as well eat something,now that you're here.
建议做某事,因为没有更好的选择
'may I suggest / may I just say...'我想建议/我想说...
May I suggest we take a break at this point?
礼貌地发表评论或提出建议
may...,but尽管...但是...
She may be the boss,but that doesn't mean she can do what she wants.
He may be 70,but he's still fit!
表示虽然某事是真的,另一件事也是真的