MODALS OF DEDUCTIONS

MODALS OF DEDUCTIONS

1. Some modal verbs can be used to express probability in the present and past.

2. Must, can't: expressing present probability

   • We use must to express that we feel sure that something is true.
     • The team is playing really well today; they must win.
   • We use can't to say we are sure that something is impossible.
     • She can't be so ill – I saw her playing volleyball yesterday.

3. We use might, may or could

   • To say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure.
   • They may be arriving tomorrow. He might be away on holiday at the moment. He could be away on holiday. He might get the job.
   • The negative of may is may not. The negative of might is might not
     • He might not get the job. I may not pass the exam. I might not go to the match tomorrow.

4. In Present

5. in Past

   • In the same way that we use modal verbs to say how certain we are about things in the present we can also use them to speculate about the past.
     • we are using deduction the form is MODAL + have +past participle
       • Must have + past participle
         • You must have been very pleased when you received the results of your exams.
       • Might have/may have/could have + past participle
         • He may have said he was coming but I can’t really remember. I wasn’t listening. I might have been here when I was a child but I can’t really remember.
       • Can’t have + past participle
         • You can’t have seen him this morning. He was with me all the time. She can’t have liked the show. She hates musicals.

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