may

[Navi]

You may go out at noon.

Does this sentence imply that the speaker is giving permission to the addressee to go out at noon?
Can it not be said by someone who is just informing the addressee of his rights but has no role in giving the permission?

[Justin_Huang]

Navi,
Are you asking this kind of situation:
Father: Peter, you may go out with your elder brother, Bill, at noon.
...
Peter: Bill, you may go out at noon.
----------

In my opinion, Peter can say that to Bill.

[Alan]

Hi Navi,

'May' has the sense of allowing or giving permission to someone to do something as in: You may start to answer your examination paper now. It can, as you have indicated, suggest that something can possibly be done without this particular reference to permission as in: You may pay by cheque.credit card or in cash for your accommodation if you wish.

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple