May example sentences
Related (13): might, could, can, possibly, perhaps, permission, possibility, allow, permit, probable, likely, uncertain, conditional
"May" Example Sentences
Common Phrases
- may I
- may not
- may have
- may be
- may well
- may as well
- come what may
- that as may be
- be that as it may
- may or may not
- it may seem
- you may want to
- may take time
- may never know
Examples by Level
A1
- You may go outside now.
- I may eat ice cream after lunch.
- We may see rain tomorrow, my mother said.
A2
- You may not understand everything at first, but that's okay.
- The bus may be late because of traffic on the highway.
- She said I may borrow her bike if I'm careful with it.
B1
- I may have made a mistake, but I'm not going to apologize for trying.
- The project may take longer than expected — we'll just have to adjust the timeline.
- You may think it's silly, but honestly, I've never felt more alive than I do right now.
B2
- What you're experiencing may well be anxiety, though it could also be something physical — either way, it's worth getting checked out.
- The decision may seem harsh in the moment, but looking back, it was probably the only thing that could have worked.
- They may have had good intentions, but the impact was devastating regardless of what they meant.
C1
- The implications of this discovery may extend far beyond what we initially anticipated, touching on everything from ethics to economics.
- One may argue that progress and tradition are inherently at odds, yet history suggests they often coexist in surprising ways.
- What appears to be a setback may, in retrospect, prove to be the catalyst for genuine transformation.
C2
- There's a particular kind of vulnerability in admitting that you may have been wrong about something you've built your entire worldview around.
- The most interesting people are often those who hold their convictions lightly enough to let them be challenged — they may change their minds, and they're okay with that.
- Success, as it turns out, may be less about having all the answers and more about being comfortable with the questions.
Examples by Scenario
🏠 Everyday Life
- The weather looks nice, but it may rain later, so I'm bringing an umbrella just in case.
- My kid may have left his backpack at school again — I'm not even surprised anymore.
- You may want to check the fridge before we go grocery shopping; I think the milk's about to expire.
💼 Workplace
- The meeting may run over, so don't book anything back-to-back if you can help it.
- Sarah may have already sent you the files — check your spam folder, it happens sometimes.
- This deadline may seem tight, but we've pulled off worse before.
📊 Business
- The merger may create some short-term disruption, but the long-term value proposition is solid.
- Our competitors may have the bigger budget, but we have something they don't: actual customer loyalty.
- This pivot may cost us some of our existing client base, but the market research suggests it's where the growth is.
🛒 Buying / Shopping
- These shoes may be expensive, but they're supposed to last forever — at least that's what the reviews say.
- I may have overspent on groceries again, but honestly, the organic stuff actually tastes better.
- That discount code may not work anymore, but it's worth trying at checkout.
✈️ Travel
- The flight may be delayed because of the weather, so we should probably head to the airport early.
- You may want to book your hotel soon — the prices go up once the festival gets announced.
- The train may be crowded during rush hour, but if you go in the afternoon, it's usually pretty empty.
📚 Education
- Your essay may be technically correct, but it needs more of your own voice — don't just summarize what the textbook says.
- Students may struggle with this concept at first, but once it clicks, everything else makes sense.
- The exam may cover material from the entire semester, so start reviewing early.
❤️ Relationships
- I may not always say it, but I'm proud of you — I hope you know that.
- He may have messed up, but he's trying to fix it, and that has to count for something.
- We may not be together anymore, but I still care about what happens to you.
📰 News / Politics
- The government may announce new regulations next week, though nothing's been confirmed yet.
- Critics may argue that the policy is too lenient, but supporters say it strikes the right balance.
- The election results may shift depending on how the remaining votes are counted.
💻 Technology
- This app may drain your battery faster than usual, so keep your charger handy.
- The update may fix some bugs, but it could also slow things down — it's a gamble.
- AI may eventually replace some jobs, but it'll probably create new ones we haven't even imagined yet.
📝 Formal Writing
- The data may suggest a correlation, though causation cannot be definitively established without further investigation.
- Participants may have experienced bias in their responses due to the self-reported nature of the survey.
- These findings may have significant implications for future policy development in the field of public health.