Page 92 - English Grammar - 7

May

May is used:

� to express possibility in affirmative sentences. For example:
It may rain today.
O
He may be at home.
O
� to express a positive wish. For example:
May you both have a happy married life!
O
May you achieve great success!
O
� to ask for permission. For example:
May I take your leave?
O
May I have the book?
O
Could and Might

Could and might are the past tense form of can and may respectively. For example:

I could cross that hill in my younger days. (shows ability in the past)
O
We thought you might take the ferry back home. (shows possibility)
O
He said we might take the last train home. (shows permission)
O
Will

Will is used:

� to talk about a future situation. For example:
Hopefully, we will have a sunny day tomorrow.
O
I will never come here again.
O
� to ask or order someone to do something. For example:
Will you make me a cup of tea?
O Will you stop pulling the dog’s tail?
Auxiliary Verbs Shall
O
Will is used with second- and third-person pronouns (you, he, she, it, they) and is
followed by the infinitive form of the verb.

Shall is used:
with I and we for talking about a future time.
�
I shall visit New Delhi next year.
O

We shall come forward to help the needy.
O

� to make suggestions, offers or seek advice. For example:
Shall I roll down the window?
O
Shall we call the police now?
O
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