she may have

USAGE SUMMARY

'she may have' is a perfectly correct and usable part of a sentence in written English.
You could use it to express the possibility of a certain fact or action. For example, you could say: "I haven't heard from Sarah in over a week; she may have gone on an extended vacation."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

She may have been thirteen.

The New Yorker

She may have lost consciousness.

The New Yorker

She may have a point.

The Economist

She may have been praying.

The New Yorker

She may have a point here".

The New York Times

She may have been ten or eleven.

The New Yorker

She may have been selling herself short.

The New York Times

She may have died in there.

The New Yorker

(She may have died a virgin).

The New Yorker

"She may have lived happily ever after".

The New York Times - Magazine

"She may have been too afraid".

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When writing formally, consider alternative phrasing like "it is possible that she has" for a more emphatic tone.

Common error

Avoid using "she may have" when referring to a future event. The correct phrasing for future possibilities is "she may" followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "she may go").

Linguistic Context

The phrase "she may have" functions as a modal construction expressing possibility or uncertainty regarding a past action or state. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a standard English construction used to convey conjecture.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

76%

Wiki

8%

Science

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "she may have" is a common and grammatically sound phrase used to express possibility or uncertainty about a past action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability. It appears most frequently in News & Media sources, suggesting a neutral register. While versatile, avoid using it for future events, opting instead for "she may". For situations requiring increased formality, consider alternatives like "it is possible that she has". Overall, it's a reliable phrase for conveying conjecture.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

she could have

Uses "could" instead of "may", indicating a slightly weaker possibility.

she might have

Uses "might" instead of "may", suggesting a slightly lower probability.

perhaps she has

Adds an adverb of possibility, "perhaps", at the beginning for emphasis.

maybe she has

Similar to "perhaps she has", but slightly less formal.

it's possible she has

Replaces the modal verb "may" with the phrase "it's possible", adding a slightly more explicit declaration of possibility.

it's a possibility she has

Similar to "it's possible she has", expressing possibility as a noun phrase.

she potentially has

Replaces "may" with "potentially", emphasizing the possibility as a potential outcome.

it's conceivable she has

Similar to "it's possible she has" but suggests a lower probability or higher difficulty in conceiving the possibility.

conceivably, she has

Adds "conceivably" as an adverb to suggest that something is within the realm of possibility, though not necessarily likely.

it is likely she has

Expresses a higher degree of certainty or probability compared to "she may have".

FAQs

How do I use "she may have" in a sentence?

"She may have" is used to express a possibility or uncertainty about a past action or state. For instance, "She may have left already" suggests it's possible she departed earlier.

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

Both phrases express possibility, but "she might have" suggests a slightly lower probability than "she may have". They are often interchangeable, but "may" implies a somewhat greater likelihood.

What are some alternatives to "she may have"?

You can use alternatives like "it is possible she has", "perhaps she has", or "she could have" depending on the desired nuance and level of formality.

Is it ever incorrect to use "she may have"?

Yes, using "she may have" to refer to future events is incorrect. For future possibilities, use "she may" followed by the base form of the verb. For example, instead of "She may have go", use "She may go".