| 单词 | may |
| 释义 | maymay /meɪ/ ●●● S1 W1 modal verb 1POSSIBILITY if something may happen or may be true, there is a possibility that it will happen or be true but this is not certain SYN might: Well, I may have been wrong. Seven thirty may be too late. It may make a big difference. There may not be enough money to pay for the repairs. They may have called while you were out. It may be that we’ll never know exactly what happened. He may well (=it is likely, but not certain) change his mind. → see also might12ASK POLITELY may I...? a)spoken used to ask politely if you can do something: Hi, may I speak to Valerie, please? Thank you for calling, how may I help you? May I have a cookie? b)may I say/ask/suggest etc. formal used to say, ask, or suggest something politely: May I suggest you start again? → see also can13ALLOWED TO DO something formal used to say that someone is allowed to do something SYN can: You may now kiss the bride. These books may not be removed from the library.4POSSIBLE TO DO something formal if something may be done, completed, etc. in a particular way, that is how it is possible to do it SYN can: The Commission may then take one of three actions. The problem may be solved in several different ways.5ALTHOUGH used to say that although one thing is true, something else which seems very different is also true: I may be slow, but I don’t make stupid mistakes. Strange as it may seem, the story is true. → see also might16may as well spoken a)used for suggesting that someone should do something because there is no good reason to do anything else: If you’re tired, you may as well go to bed. b) (also may just as well) used for saying that the situation is the same as if something were true: Even though my grandparents’ farm was only a hundred miles away, at that time it may as well have been a million.7may you/he/they etc. do something literary used to say that you hope that a particular thing will happen to someone: May we never have to fight another war. Long may he live!8PURPOSE formal used for introducing a reason or purpose after phrases such as “so that” or “in order that”: The king has ordered a festival so that his son may select a bride.9be that as it may formal in spite of something that has just been said: “He never meant it to happen.” “Be that as it may, it did happen.”[Origin: Old English mæg] |
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