may
gb/mˈeɪ/ us/mˈeɪ/
A1
Englisch
~ 200
Bedeutungen
0 Bedeutungen
modal verb
A2
relation
1
express possibility or give permission
Used to say something is possible or to allow someone to do something.
Verwendungsmuster:
[someone] may [verb]
Häufiger Fehler:
Learners often confuse 'may' with 'can'. 'May' is more formal and often used for permission, while 'can' is more common in everyday speech for ability and informal permission.
Synonyme
can ('Can' is often used for ability or informal permission, while 'may' is more formal for permission and possibility.)
|
might ('Might' often suggests a slightly lower probability than 'may' in possibility statements.)
Antonyme
must not (Indicates prohibition, the opposite of granting permission.)
Wortverbindungen
may be
|may not
|may have
|may well
Themen
daily life
|communication
|rules
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- You may leave early if you finish your work.
- It may rain later this afternoon.
- Students may use the library after hours.
- You may find this book helpful.
- Visitors may not enter without a pass.
Beispiele für Lernende
- You may go now.
- It may be cold tonight.
- We may play outside.
- She may come to the party.
- You may eat the cake.
Nomen
A1
entity
2
the fifth month of the year
The month between April and June.
Wortverbindungen
in May
|May Day
|early May
|late May
Themen
time
|calendar
|core_vocabulary
Beispiele
- The flowers bloom beautifully in May.
- Our wedding is planned for May 14th.
- May is usually warm in this region.
- Many festivals take place in May.
- She will graduate in May.
Beispiele für Lernende
- My birthday is in May.
- May is a warm month.
- We go on holiday in May.
- It rains a lot in May.
- School ends in May.
Nomen
literary
B2
entity
3
hawthorn tree or blossom
A tree with white or pink flowers that bloom in spring.
Synonyme
hawthorn (Scientific or common name for the tree; 'May' is more poetic or seasonal.)
Wortverbindungen
May blossom
|garland of May
Themen
nature
|plants
Beispiele
- The hedgerows were full of May.
- Villagers decorated the pole with fresh May.
- The scent of May filled the air.
- Children picked May to weave into crowns.
- The festival celebrates the coming of May.
Beispiele für Lernende
- The May has white flowers.
- We saw May in the field.
- The tree called May blooms in spring.
- May grows near the road.
- People use May flowers for decoration.
Grammatik
Grundform
may
IPA
GB/mˈeɪ/
US/mˈeɪ/
Silben & Betonung
may (1 Silbe)
Stress on 1st syllable (may)
Wortformen
Noun
- Base: may
- Plural: mays
Wortfamilie
Forms
mays
noun
Core family
maybe
adverb A2
Ausdrücke
come what may
1/kˈʌm wˈʌt mˈeɪ/
idiom
literary
continue no matter what happens
Used to say that you will do something whatever happens.
Beispiele
- I’ll support you, come what may.
- Come what may, we will finish the project.
May as well
1/mˈeɪ ˈæz wˈɛl/
fixed phrase
no better choice available
Used to say that you will do something because there is no reason not to.
Beispiele
- If it’s going to rain all day, we may as well stay inside.
- We may as well start now since everyone is here.
May I help you?
1/mˈeɪ ˈaɪ hˈɛlp jˈu ‖/
fixed phrase
polite offer of help
A polite way to ask if someone needs help.
Beispiele
- May I help you find something?
- May I help you with those bags?