it may exists

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "it may exists" is not correct in English.
The correct form is "it may exist." You can use it when discussing the possibility of something being present or occurring. Example: "In this vast universe, it may exist life on other planets."

⚠ May contain grammatical issues

Science

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

It may exists lots of shadow images or noises in this captured image.

Human-centric Computing and Information Sciences

Alternatively, it may exists a functional difference between human and mouse DCs regarding SOCS2.

Plosone

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Each agent is associated with a set of states in which it may exist, and which define its behavior; this is referred to as a finite‐state machine.

CPT: Pharmacometrics and Systems Pharmacology

Its suspension point is fixed in the cart, so that it may exist a relative motion between cart and pendulum.

Journal of Sound and Vibration

Stone: A stone has a spiritual life force invested in it so that it may exist, but it must be carried to move its physical position.

Huffington Post

"It may exist only in our minds, but that makes it no less real".

The New Yorker

I'm not aware of a Randian influence in my work, but it may exist.

The New York Times - Books

And the House, though it may exist in another dimension, is certainly not free.

The New York Times - Books

It may exist in potential, kinetic, thermal, electrical, chemical, nuclear, or other various forms.

Encyclopedia Britannica

But it may exist at lower levels and may accomplish the goals of raising more money for the centers".

The New York Times

It may exist for some period of time … I don't think it's possible to have a hard and fast rule about how you define imminent".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Always use the base form of the verb after modal verbs like "may", "might", and "could". Therefore, the correct phrase is "it may exist".

Common error

A common mistake is using the incorrect form of the verb after modal verbs. Ensure you always use the base form. For instance, avoid saying "it may exists"; the correct form is "it may exist".

Linguistic Context

The phrase functions as an incorrect expression of possibility. The modal verb "may" indicates a potential or hypothetical state, but the verb "exists" is used incorrectly. As Ludwig AI highlights, the correct phrase is "it may exist".

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

Science

50%

News & Media

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The query "it may exists" is a grammatically incorrect phrase. The correct form, as indicated by Ludwig AI, is "it may exist". This construction uses the modal verb "may" followed by the base form of the verb "exist" to express possibility. While the phrase appears in a limited number of contexts, primarily Science and News & Media, its incorrect grammar diminishes its effectiveness and should be avoided. Always ensure the base form of the verb is used after modal verbs to maintain grammatical accuracy and clarity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

it may exist

Corrects the grammatical error by using the base form of the verb "exist" after the modal verb "may".

it might exist

Substitutes "may" with "might", offering a slightly weaker degree of possibility.

it could exist

Replaces "may" with "could", also indicating possibility, sometimes suggesting a conditional aspect.

it is possible that it exists

Rephrases the sentence to explicitly state the possibility of existence.

its existence is possible

Changes the structure to emphasize the existence as a possibility.

the possibility of its existence

Nominalizes the phrase, focusing on the possibility as a concept.

it is conceivable that it exists

Uses "conceivable" to suggest that existence is within the realm of imagination or possibility.

it is imaginable that it exists

Uses "imaginable" to emphasize the possibility from a creative or speculative standpoint.

it is plausible that it exists

Indicates that existence is believable or has the appearance of truth.

its presence is possible

Focuses on the presence rather than existence itself, suggesting availability or detectability.

FAQs

What is the correct form, "it may exists" or "it may exist"?

The correct form is "it may exist". Modal verbs like "may" are always followed by the base form of the verb.

When should I use "it may exist"?

Use "it may exist" when you want to express the possibility of something being present or occurring. For example, "It may exist life on other planets."

What are some alternatives to "it may exist"?

You can use alternatives like "it might exist", "it could exist", or "it is possible that it exists".

What is the difference between "it may exist" and "it exists"?

"It may exist" indicates a possibility, while "it exists" states a fact. "It may exist" suggests something could be real or present, whereas "it exists" confirms its reality or presence.