What is the difference between may and will?

Definitions

may

- Asking for permission or expressing possibility.

- Indicating uncertainty or doubt.

- Expressing a wish or hope.

will

- Expressing a future action or event that is certain or planned.

- Making a promise or commitment.

- Expressing willingness or determination to do something.

List of Similarities

• 1. Both are modal verbs.
• 2. Both express a degree of uncertainty or possibility.
• 3. Both can be used to make requests or ask for permission.
• 4. Both can be used to express wishes or hopes.

What is the difference?

• 1. Certainty: May expresses possibility or uncertainty, while will expresses certainty or determination.
• 2. Future tense: Will is used to express future actions or events that are certain or planned, while may is not typically used in this context.
• 3. Promise: Will can be used to make a promise or commitment, while may cannot.
• 4. Permission: May is used to ask for permission, while will is not typically used in this context.
• 5. Formality: Will is generally more formal than may, which is often used in casual conversation.

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Remember this!

May and will are both modal verbs that express a degree of uncertainty or possibility. However, may is used to indicate possibility or uncertainty, while will is used to express certainty or determination. Will can also be used to make promises or commitments, while may is used to ask for permission or express wishes.