May: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when you are expressing possibility or permission. It's often a polite and formal way to ask for something.

• She may come to the party if she finishes her work.
• May I use your phone, please?

Use when expressing a lower possibility than 'may'. It's also appropriate to indicate something hypothetical or suggest potential consequences.

• She might come to the party, but it's not sure.
• If you hurry, you might catch the bus.

Use to indicate past ability, polite requests, or theoretical possibility. It's less certain than 'can'.

• I could swim when I was five years old.
• Could you pass the salt, please?
• It could rain later.

Use 'may' when expressing a possibility that is reasonably likely to happen or when asking for or granting permission in a formal or polite manner.

• She may come to the party tonight.
• May I borrow your pen?

Use 'might' to indicate a lower probability than 'may' or 'could'. It is often used to suggest something that is less certain or more hypothetical.

• He might come to the meeting, but it's unlikely.
• If you hurry, you might catch the bus.

Use 'could' to talk about a possibility in the past, future, or present that is less certain than 'may'. It is also used to make polite requests or suggestions.

• She could be at the library now.
• Could you help me with my homework?

Used to indicate possibility or permission. It's formal and polite, often found in written communication or formal requests.

• You may leave early today if you finish your work.
• It may rain later, so take an umbrella.

Used to indicate a weaker possibility or potential. It suggests that something is less likely to happen compared to 'may'.

• I might go to the party, but I'm not sure yet.
• There might be a delay because of the traffic.

Used to express possibility, past ability, or a polite suggestion/request. It's less formal than 'may' and often used in spoken language.

• She could dance very well when she was younger.
• Could you please pass the salt?