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Cat navy 425 Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

Question about sentences

Dear all,

Kindly see the following sentences. I have seen these sentences in a grammar book. It says in the first sentence the presence of "may" shows "possibility" and in the second sentence its presence shows "permission". But here I am not sure about the meaning of "may" in the second sentence. I feel that its meaning is "perhaps I play the piano". I would like to get your opinion on this.

1) I may attend the meeting this weekend.(possibility)

2) I may play the piano.(permission)


Thank you.

  

Top answer

For both sentences, both meanings are possible. The context will normally make the intended meaning clear. Clive

— Clive

  • For both sentences, both meanings are possible.
  • The context will normally make the intended meaning clear.
  • Clive
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2 Answers
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For both sentences, both meanings are possible. The context will normally make the intended meaning clear.

Clive

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In the United States, and I expect elsewhere as well, speakers of English think first only of "possibility", i.e., "maybe", when they hear "may". The only common exception is when someone uses the first-person question "May I ...?" to ask permission to do something. The use of "I may ..." in the meaning "I have been given permission to ..." is so uncommon as to be nearly non-existent. For t

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