he may pay

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "he may pay" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the possibility or permission for someone to make a payment. Example: "If he decides to go through with the purchase, he may pay at the checkout counter."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

15 human-written examples

He may pay still more.

The New York Times

Now he may pay the price.

The New York Times

"He may pay a price," Ms. Michelman said.

The New York Times

He may pay off some short-term debt, or refinance an existing mortgage.

The Economist

One day, she thinks, he may pay her back for keeping him out of her head all this time.

The Guardian

But four of the six lost, and now he may pay the price in Albany, where he has long struggled to win allies.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

44 human-written examples

Now they may pay for it.

The New Yorker

The dark irony, however, is that while, from the start, the protagonist and much of the academic world he inhabits, may pay lip service to a woman's degrees and the trappings of her liberation, in fact, what they want first and foremost, like their Islamic counterparts they so contemptuously dismiss, is her "submission".

Huffington Post

"In fact," he said, "we may pay tribute to the 'power trio' genre at some point on Friday".

Los Angeles Times

It's a natural fear to worry about rejection, but if you've paid attention to how he behaves around you and you're confident he likes you, it may pay off to be direct with him.

WikiHow

"He or the company may pay a fine, a hefty fine, but likely it will be Khodorkovsky personally".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "he may pay", ensure the context clearly indicates the condition or reason for the possibility of payment. For instance, specify under what circumstances payment might occur to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "he may pay" without providing context for when or why the payment is possible. Without this context, the statement can be vague and uninformative. Always clarify the conditions that trigger the potential payment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "he may pay" functions as a modal phrase expressing possibility or permission. It combines a pronoun, a modal verb ('may'), and a verb ('pay') to indicate a potential action. As Ludwig AI explains, the phrase is grammatically correct.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Encyclopedias

1%

Reference

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "he may pay" is a common and grammatically correct expression used to indicate the possibility or permissibility of a male individual making a payment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable phrase in English. Its usage spans various contexts, with a strong presence in news and media, as well as in more informal settings like Wiki articles. While alternatives such as "he might pay" or "he could pay" exist, they offer slight variations in the degree of certainty. When using "he may pay", it's crucial to provide sufficient context to clarify the conditions under which the payment might occur. The phrase maintains a neutral register, making it suitable for both formal and informal communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

he might pay

Replaces 'may' with 'might', suggesting a slightly lower probability or possibility.

he could pay

Substitutes 'may' with 'could', indicating a conditional possibility depending on circumstances.

he is able to pay

Changes the modal verb construction to express capability or capacity to pay.

he has the option to pay

Emphasizes the choice or right to make a payment.

he is allowed to pay

Highlights permission or authorization to pay.

it is possible for him to pay

Restructures the sentence to focus on the possibility of payment.

he is expected to pay

Shifts the focus to an expectation rather than a possibility of payment.

he will potentially pay

Uses 'potentially' to modify 'will', indicating a future possibility of payment.

he is likely to pay

Indicates a high probability or likelihood of payment.

he will perhaps pay

Adds 'perhaps' to express uncertainty about the future payment.

FAQs

What does "he may pay" mean?

The phrase "he may pay" suggests that it is possible or permissible for a male individual to make a payment. It indicates a potential action rather than a certainty.

What can I say instead of "he may pay"?

You can use alternatives like "he might pay", "he could pay", or "he is able to pay" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

When is it appropriate to use "he may pay"?

Use "he may pay" when you want to express a possibility, permission, or a conditional action related to a payment made by a male individual. For example, "If he approves the invoice, he may pay it next week."

Is there a difference between "he may pay" and "he will pay"?

Yes, "he may pay" indicates possibility or permission, while "he will pay" expresses a definite intention or certainty. The former is less assertive than the latter.