The negative of may is may not. It is possible to join these two words together. Like this… mayn’t. But this is very unusual. Most of the time we say may not. May is not a very common word in English, and it is less common in American English than British English. May is sometimes used like can and could. But it is a much more formal word. Stejně jako v případě can a could - pomocí may můžeme o něco požádat nebo něco nabídnout. May je daleko zdvořilejší, formálnější sloveso. Rozdíl gramatický: při nabídce či žádosti se may dá užít jenom v první osobě (sg.,pl.) I may, we may. Offering: May I help you? Formal requests: May we have a bottle of wine, please? Permission: May I sit here? To speculate about or consider things that are probably true in the present: They may be outside. To speculate about things that will probably be true in the future: He may come to the party on Sunday. To speculate about or consider things that were probably true in the past: She may have spoken to him yesterday. Pomocí slovesa may mluvčí vyjadřuje domněnku, že něco je a nebo není pravděpodobné.