MODAL VERBS OF SPECULATION

MODAL VERBS OF SPECULATION

1. What are modals of speculation? Modals of speculation are modal auxiliary verbs which express degrees of certainty. In other words, they describe a fact or situation that is definite, probable, possible, or impossible from the speaker's point of view. (As the speaker is speculating, he/she may be wrong.)

2. SENTENCE STRUCTURE

   • subject | modal verb | (negation) | main verb | object/complement
     • The main verb is always in the plain form, even when the sentence expresses the future.
     • examples
       • He | must | (not) | be | very happy.

3. USE

   • Commonly used modals for present and future events include the following: Must / will express a definite situation, and must not / will not / could not an impossible one. On the other hand, may / may not / might / might not / could aren't as clear. The conversation and intonation may subtly change the meaning. However, may /may not are more certain than might / might not / could, and these last three modals express a weak probability.

4. USE AND EXAMPLES OF HOW USE THEM

   • must: + He must really enjoy life because he always has a smile on his face. - He must not (mustn't) be very happy if he always has a frown.
   • will: + If all countries stop polluting, greenhouse gases will significantly drop. - Many industrialized countries will not (won't) stop polluting the environment!
   • may: + Sandy may study abroad next fall, but only if she gets good grades this spring. - If Sandy doesn't get good grades this spring, she may not study abroad next fall.
   • might: + Although we might have cars that fly in 50 years, I doubt it. - Gasoline-powered transportation might not exist in 50 years. We'll use electric cars.
   • could: + I could vote for in the next election if one of the candidates interests me. - Jim is very conservative. He could not (couldn't) ever vote for a liberal politician.

5. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

   • modal verbs never take a third-person singular s, as in: If it snows this afternoon, Tim coulds be late. Franz mights spend the summer in California.
     • modal verbs are always followed by a verb in the plain or bare infinitive form, never to + verb. So the following sentence is wrong: Tim could to be late if it snows this afternoon. Franz might to spend the summer in California.

6. They can't study, by that they are crying

Images and files in the map

• Modals of Speculation - rules and examples - (English Grammar) (Embed)
•