1. Permission. .

“May I use your phone? (Heym)

At any rate she murmured something to the effect that he might stay if he wished. (Hardy)

As has been mentioned (see § 2), can also often expresses per­mission but of a different kind: e. g., You may take the book means that the speaker gives the permission; You can take the book means that there are no conditions that prevent the person from taking the book.

May expressing permission is used only with the Indefinite Infinitive. Here we must observe the difference in the expression of permission and prohibition.

Whereas the former is always expressed by may, the latter has other ways of expression besides may not. Very often the negative answer to the question containing a request for permission is don’t or must not.

May I read the letter?

No, don’t, please.

Don’t is less strict than may not, it is rather asking somebody not to do something than actually prohibiting something, which is expressed by may not. ,

Must not means that it is not the person who prohibits the action, but that there are facts, rules, or circumstances prohibit­ing it.

You must not smoke so much.

(For the difference between can and may in this meaning see § 2, 2.)

2. Uncertainty as to the fulfilment of an action, state or occur­rence, supposition implying doubt.

“You may think you’re very old,” he said,-“but you strike me as extremely young.” (Galsworthy)

«Может быть, вы думаете, что вы очень старая, — сказал он,— но мне вы кажетесь совсем молодой».

She was and remains a riddle to me. She may and she may not prove to be a riddle to you. (Dreiser)

Она была и остается загадкой для меня. Может быть, она ока­жется загадкой и для вас, а может быть, и нет.

Not which follows may expressing uncertainty is always strongly stressed.

As is seen from the above examples this meaning of may is rendered in Russian by может быть, возможно.

Sometimes when Mr. de Winter is away, and you feel lonely, you might like to come up to these rooms and sit here. (Du Maurler) Иногда, когда мистер де Винтер уедет и вы почувствуете себя одинокой, вам, может быть, захочется прийти посидеть в этих комнатах.

The last example shows that might denoting uncertainty has no nporal meaning, i. e. it does not express uncertainty referring I he past. Practically speaking there is hardly any difference be-

2. May antfjmight in this meaning.

Sometimes might expresses greater reserve or uncertainty on the ,nl of the speaker than may.

Might instead of may is often used because of the sequence of tenses.

That was like her —she had no foresight. Still—who knew? — she might be right. (Galsworthy)

Это похоже на нее — она не умела смотреть вперед. Все же — кто знает? — может быть, она и права.

Mrs. Page reflected that though Andrew looked hungry he might not be hard to feed. (Cronin)

Миссис Пейдж подумала, что, хотя у Эндрью голодный вид, его, может быть, и не трудно будет прокормить.

May denoting uncertainty is used with all the forms of the tinitive.

A Forsyte might perhaps still be living in that house, to guard it jealously. (Galsworthy)