may have found

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "may have found" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to indicate a possibility that something has been discovered. For example: After spending weeks searching for the missing painting, the art historian may have found it hidden in a secret room.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

"May have found the plane today.

The New York Times - Magazine

He may have found it.

The New York Times

Earlier this year, I may have found it.

The New York Times

And they may have found it.

The New York Times

I may have found the answer.

The Guardian - Travel

The city may have found a solution.

The New York Times

They think they may have found one.

The New York Times

You may have found an oin.

The New Yorker

We may have found the holy grail".

The New York Times

Shakespeare himself may have found it disturbing.

The New Yorker

They may have found a solution in outer space.

The New York Times - Magazine

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "may have found" when expressing a possibility or uncertainty about a discovery or finding. Ensure the context clearly indicates what was potentially found. For example: "After a long search, the team may have found a solution to the problem."

Common error

Avoid using "may have find". The correct form is "may have found", using the past participle of "find". For example, it is grammatically incorrect to say: "They may have find the error".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "may have found" functions as a modal verb phrase indicating a possibility or speculation about a completed action of finding something. Ludwig AI indicates its correctness, with examples showing its broad use in different contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

5%

Less common in

Wiki

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "may have found" is a modal verb phrase used to express a possibility that something has been discovered. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used across various contexts, particularly in News & Media and Science. When writing, be mindful of using the correct tense ("found" rather than "find") and consider alternatives like "might have discovered" to add nuance. Remember, "may have found" communicates uncertainty, so ensure your context aligns with this implication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

might have discovered

Replaces "found" with "discovered" and "may" with "might", both suggesting a possibility but with slightly different emphasis.

could have located

Substitutes "found" with "located" and "may" with "could", implying a potential discovery of a physical location.

might have identified

Replaces "found" with "identified" and "may" with "might", suggesting a possible recognition or identification of something.

potentially uncovered

Uses "uncovered" instead of "found" and "potentially" instead of "may have", emphasizing the act of revealing something previously hidden.

possibly detected

Employs "detected" in place of "found" and "possibly" instead of "may have", implying a potential discovery through observation or measurement.

perhaps stumbled upon

Replaces "may have found" with "perhaps stumbled upon", suggesting an accidental or unexpected discovery.

it's possible they located

Rephrases the sentence structure to emphasize possibility with "it's possible", using "located" instead of "found".

conceivably unearthed

Uses "unearthed" to mean "found" in the context of discovering something hidden or buried, replacing "may" with "conceivably".

they might just have the answer

This alternative expresses a slightly stronger degree of possibility and replaces "found" with "have the answer", indicating a solution.

there's a chance they discovered

Shifts the focus to the chance of discovery, using "discovered" instead of "found" and rephrasing to emphasize the uncertainty.

FAQs

How to use "may have found" in a sentence?

Use "may have found" to express a possibility that someone or something has discovered something. For instance: "The researchers "may have found" a new species of plant in the Amazon rainforest."

What can I say instead of "may have found"?

You can use alternatives like "might have discovered", "could have located", or "potentially uncovered" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "may have found" or "may have find"?

"May have found" is correct. "Found" is the past participle of "find" and is required after "have". "May have find" is grammatically incorrect.

What's the difference between "may have found" and "might have found"?

Both phrases express a possibility, but ""may have found"" suggests a slightly higher degree of possibility than "might have found". The difference is subtle and often depends on the speaker's subjective assessment of the situation.