May vs. Shall
'May' and 'shall' are modal verbs confused by learners as both of them are used to make offers. In this lesson, we will learn their uses and differences.
What Is Their Main Difference?
The main difference between modal verbs 'may' and 'shall' is that 'may' talks about possibilities, while 'shall' talks about obligations.
Modal Verb May
'May' is a modal verb mainly used in formal contexts. It is used to give and ask for permission, talk about possibilities, and offers. Take a look at the following examples:
I
Modal Verb Shall
'Shall' is a modal verb used to talk about necessities, give suggestions, and make offers. Have a look:
We
Similarities
Making Offers
Negation and Questions
Modal verbs can be used to create negative or interrogative sentences.
When we want to make a negative sentence, we add 'not' to the modal verb as shown in the pattern below:
- May → May not → Mayn't
- Shall → Shall not → Shan't
Look at the following examples for clarity:
I
I
I
I
With Other Modals
Modal verbs can be used with other verbs and auxiliary verbs but they cannot be used with another modal verb. We cannot have more than one modal verb in one clause. Take a look at these incorrect sentences:
I help you out.
He burst out in tears.
Differences
Giving and Asking for Permission
We use 'may' to give and ask for permission to do something in a formal context. Take a look at the following dialogue:
Talking about Obligation
'Shall' is used to talk about formal obligation in documents and formal contexts. Have a look:
She
They
Talking about Possibilities
Expressing Wishes
'May' is used at the beginning of the sentence to express wishes, condolences, or say prayers. Take a look at the following examples:
Talking about the Future
We use 'shall' instead of 'will' to talk about the future. We replace them only when the subject is 'I' or 'we.' Take a look a the following examples:
I
We
With Conditionals
'May' is used with conditionals type 1 to talk about real situations with real outcomes. These situations often have a high chance of occurrence. For example:
If you watch after your siblings, I
If you finish your homework, I
Tip!
You may hear 'shall' in conditional type 1 statements, but this usage is mainly dedicated to dialects.