What is the difference between may and shall?

Definitions

may

- Asking for permission or expressing possibility.

- Indicating a wish or desire.

- Expressing uncertainty or doubt.

shall

- Making a suggestion or offering assistance.

- Forming a future tense question or statement.

- Expressing determination or obligation.

List of Similarities

• 1. Both are auxiliary verbs used to modify the meaning of other verbs.
• 2. Both can be used to form questions and negative statements.
• 3. Both have multiple meanings depending on the context.
• 4. Both are commonly used in formal writing and speech.

What is the difference?

• 1. Usage: May is more commonly used to ask for permission or express possibility, while shall is more commonly used to make suggestions or express determination.
• 2. Future tense: Shall is used to form the future tense in some contexts, while may is not.
• 3. Obligation: Shall can be used to express a legal or moral obligation, while may cannot.
• 4. Certainty: Shall implies a greater degree of certainty than may.
• 5. Formality: Shall is generally considered more formal than may.

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Remember this!

May and shall are both auxiliary verbs that modify the meaning of other verbs. However, may is typically used to ask for permission or express possibility, while shall is more commonly used to make suggestions or express determination. Additionally, shall can be used to form the future tense and express obligation, while may cannot.