they may learn

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "they may learn" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express the possibility or potential for someone to acquire knowledge or skills. Example: "By participating in this workshop, they may learn new techniques to improve their craft."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

They may learn.

The Economist

(1) They may learn similar features in mechanical feature extraction.

Neurocomputing

They may learn their morality from reality TV.

The Guardian - Opinion

"They may learn to like you," he said.

The New York Times

Unofficially, they may learn they are being considered.

The New York Times

They may learn about successful online news start-ups.

The Guardian

That is, they may learn without getting new factual information.

Yale University

As for foreigners who move to Germany, they may learn German imperfectly, if at all.

The Economist

Soon they may learn about another, less-celebrated part of American history: slavery.

The New York Times - Arts

Otherwise, they may learn alphabet sounds but gain no desire to decode letters on their own.

The New York Times

They often meet interesting people, for example, or they may learn about attractive employment opportunities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "they may learn" when you want to express a possibility or potential for learning, without stating it as a certainty. For example: "If they attend the workshop, "they may learn" new skills."

Common error

Avoid using "they may learn" when you want to express a definite outcome. If the learning is guaranteed, use "they will learn" instead. "They may learn" implies uncertainty, while "they will learn" indicates a sure result.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "they may learn" functions as a modal verb phrase, indicating a possibility or potential for a group of individuals to acquire knowledge or skills. As Ludwig highlights, this phrase is usable to express possibility.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Science

30%

Academia

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "they may learn" is a versatile phrase used to express the possibility of acquiring knowledge or skills. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically correct and widely used. Its frequency is high across diverse sources, particularly in news, science, and academic contexts. While alternatives exist, such as "they might learn" or "they could learn", "they may learn" maintains a neutral register suitable for various writing styles. When using the phrase, ensure that the context accurately reflects a possibility rather than a certainty. Examples on Ludwig illustrate the phrase’s utility in educational, scientific, and general contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

they might learn

Replaces "may" with "might", indicating a slightly lower probability.

they could learn

Substitutes "may" with "could", suggesting a possibility depending on certain conditions.

they can learn

Uses "can" instead of "may", indicating ability or potential, rather than possibility.

they will potentially learn

Adds "potentially" to emphasize the possibility of learning.

it's possible they'll learn

Restructures the sentence to emphasize the possibility using "it's possible".

they have the capacity to learn

Focuses on the inherent ability or capacity to learn something.

they are likely to learn

Indicates a higher probability of learning, using "likely".

they stand to learn

Suggests that there are benefits or advantages associated with learning.

knowledge acquisition is possible for them

A more formal and passive way of expressing the potential for learning.

they have the opportunity to learn

Emphasizes the availability of a chance or opportunity to learn.

FAQs

How can I use "they may learn" in a sentence?

Use "they may learn" to indicate a possibility of gaining knowledge or skills. For example, "By studying diligently, "they may learn" the material effectively".

What phrases are similar to "they may learn"?

Alternatives include "they might learn", "they could learn", or "they can learn", depending on the context and the degree of possibility you want to convey.

Is it correct to say "they will learn" instead of "they may learn"?

Both are grammatically correct, but they convey different meanings. "They will learn" expresses certainty, while "they may learn" suggests a possibility. Choose the phrase that accurately reflects the likelihood of learning.

What is the difference between "they may learn" and "they are learning"?

"They may learn" indicates a potential future outcome, whereas "they are learning" describes an ongoing process. The first expresses possibility, the second describes current activity.