In the sentence given below, the modal ‘may’ expresses:
Let’s start dinner without Anil. He may be stuck in traffic near the flyover.
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → possibility
The speaker does not know why Anil is late. Being stuck in traffic is only one possible reason.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) permission | asking for or giving permission; no one does that in this sentence | Students may use the library till 8 p.m. |
| (2) possibility (answer) | may shows that something is possible, but the speaker is not sure | Take your raincoat, as it may rain in the afternoon. |
| (3) a wish or blessing | wishes something good for someone; the sentence does not wish anything for Anil | May you have a long and happy life. |
| (4) purpose | needs “so that” before “may”; there is none here | She saves money every month so that she may buy a laptop. |