What is the Difference Between Shall and May in English Grammar?

The main difference between the modal verbs "shall" and "may" in English grammar lies in their usage and meanings:

• Shall:
• Indicates a future action or obligation.
• Mainly used in formal contexts and documents.
• Can be used with singular or plural subjects in the first, second, and third persons.
• Expresses offers, suggestions, and requests.
• May:
• Talks about possibilities, permissions, and offers.
• Used in both formal and informal contexts.
• Commonly used with a singular subject in the second person.
• Asks for or grants permission, and shows an ability or obligation (in legal situations).

In summary, "shall" is used to express future actions, obligations, and formal contexts, while "may" is used for possibilities, permissions, and offers in both formal and informal contexts.

Comparative Table: Shall vs May in English Grammar

The main difference between the modal verbs 'shall' and 'may' in English grammar is that 'shall' is used to indicate a future action or obligation, while 'may' is used to express permission, possibility, hope, or a wish. Here is a table summarizing their differences:

In addition to these differences, 'may' is used with conditionals type 1 to talk about real situations with real outcomes, while 'shall' is used instead of 'will' to talk about the future only when the subject is 'I' or 'we'.