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Guren Firippu Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

MAY/MAY BE

It's cloudy, it may rain.
It's cloudy, it may be rain.

I understand the first sentence is right. How about the second sentence?
  

Top answer

The first sentence is correct. The only way the second would be correct is if you say "It's cloudy, it may be raining"... but this is not something a native would normally say as they would likely know if it is actually raining or not.

— Anonymous

  • The first sentence is correct.
  • The only way the second would be correct is if you say "It's cloudy, it may be raining"...
  • but this is not something a native would normally say as they would likely know if it is actually raining or not.
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5 Answers
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The first sentence is correct. The only way the second would be correct is if you say "It's cloudy, it may be raining"... but this is not something a native would normally say as they would likely know if it is actually raining or not.
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Guren FirippuI understand the first sentence is right.
Right.
Guren FirippuHow about the second sentence?
No, but you can make it right. It's cloudy. There may be rain.

CJ
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Thank you everyone for the responses and clarifications. What really made me confused is the similarity of its sentence structure to "I can hear someone coming, it may be him."
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Guren FirippuThank you everyone for the responses and clarifications. What really made me confused is the similarity of its sentence structure to "I can hear someone coming, it may be him."
You can do that with "rain", but not as you did in your sentence.

I hear a rapping noise on the roof. It may be rain. (Or it may be squirrels.)

CJ
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I see. I understand it much better now. The situation was inappropriate.
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