II. MEANING AND USE
3. MAY
a. In the simple present we use ‘may'.
Exemple :
You may watch TV during holidays.
Children may not drink beer.
May we go to cinema this evening?
May girls not wear trousers?
b. In the simple past may becomes ‘might'.
Exemple :
Children might go to cinema last night.
They might not go to the birthday party.
Might young people watch vampire films?
Might they not stay out until 10 p.m ?
c. In the other tenses we use its equivalent ‘ to be allowed to' ‘to be permitted to'.
Exemple :
They will be allowed to go to cinema next week.
Her small brother will not be permitted to watch cartoon if he does not work well at school.
Will his sister be allowed to go out at night?
won't you be allowed to visit your grand parents on Sunday?
Fondamental :
May expresses permission.
Exemple :
May I go out please?
Fondamental :
It also expresses probability.
Exemple :
It may rain tomorrow.
