<h2 class="western"><span><span>May</span></span></h2>
<p><span><span><span>"May" is most commonly used </span></span></span><span><span><span><em><strong>to express possibility</strong></em></span></span></span><span><span><span>. It can also be used </span></span></span><span><span><span><em><strong>to give or request permission</strong></em></span></span></span><span><span><span>, although this usage is becoming less common.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span>Examples:</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li>
<p><span><span>Cheryl</span></span><span><span> </span></span><strong><span><span>may</span></span></strong><span><span> </span></span><span><span>be at home, or perhaps at work.</span></span><span><span> </span></span><em><span><span>possibility</span></span></em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><span><span>Johnny, you</span></span><span><span> </span></span><strong><span><span>may</span></span></strong><span><span> </span></span><span><span>leave the table when you have finished your dinner.</span></span><span><span> </span></span><em><span><span>give permission</span></span></em></p>
</li>
<li>
<p><strong><span><span>May</span></span></strong><span><span> </span></span><span><span>I use your bathroom?</span></span><span><span> </span></span><em><span><span>request permission</span></span></em> </p>
</li>
</ul>
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<p><span><span><span><span>Modal Use</span></span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span>Positive Forms<br />1. = Present   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>2. = Past   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>3. = Future</span></span></p>
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<p><span><span>Negative Forms<br />1. = Present   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>2. = Past   </span></span></p>
<p><span><span>3. = Future</span></span></p>
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<p><span><span>Also use:</span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>may<br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>possibility</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
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<p><span><span><span>1. Jack may be upset. I can't really tell if he is annoyed or tired.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. Jack may have been upset. I couldn't really tell if he was annoyed or tired.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. Jack may get upset if you don't tell him the truth.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>1. Jack may not be upset. Perhaps he is tired.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. Jack may not have been upset. Perhaps he was tired.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him the truth</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>might</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>may<br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>give permission</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
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<p><span><span><span>1. You may leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />You were allowed to leave the table after you finished your dinner.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. You may leave the table when you finish your dinner.</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>1. You may not leave the table. You're not finished with your dinner yet.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />You were not allowed to leave the table because you hadn't finished your dinner.</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>3. You may not leave the table until you are finished with your dinner.</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>can</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>may<br /></span></span></span><em><span><span><span><strong>request permission</strong></span></span></span></em></p>
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<p><span><span><span>May I borrow your eraser?</span></span></span></p>
<p><span><span><span>May I make a phone call?</span></span></span></p>
<p><em><span><span><span>Requests usually refer to the near future.</span></span></span></em></p>
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<p><span><span><span>NO NEGATIVE FORMS</span></span></span></p>
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<p><span><span><span>can,</span></span></span><span><span><span> </span></span></span><span><span><span><br />might</span></span></span></p>
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