Modals

1. Nobody knows exactly why he died. But we think it might have been an accident.
➪ We can use might/may have + past participle to talk about something that perhaps happened
or was true.
➪ We can use can't but not can as a modal verb of deduction.
➪ It might have been an accident= Maybe it was an accident.
2. I should have revised more for the exam. I was lazy, and now I'll fail!
➪ We can use should have + past participle to talk about a situation that we expected to happen
in the past, but it didn't.
➪ We often use this form to express criticism.
3. Sarah looked very happy. She must have passed her driving test.
➪ We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that something was true
or happened in the past.
➪ She must have passed her diriving test= I'm sure she passed.
4. I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You should have told me!
➪ We can use should have + past participle to talk about a situation that we expected to happen
in the past, but it didn’t.
5. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He must have taken the wrong train.
➪ He must have taken the wrong train= I’m sure she took the wrong train.
6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He can't have taken the correct train.
➪ We can use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that something
did NOT happen or was NOT true in the past.
➪ He can't have taken the correct train.= I'm quite sure he didn't take the correct train.
7. You couldn't have been ill yesterday. Jessie saw you at the bowling alley.
➪ We can use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that something
did NOT happen or was NOT true in the past.
➪ You couldn't have been ill.= I'm quite sure you weren't ill.
➪ We can use must but not mustn't as a modal verb of deduction.

8. I don't know where they went but they could have gone to Paris or Marseille.
➪ We can use could/might/may have + past participle to talk about something that perhaps
happened or was true.
➪ They could have gone to Paris or Marseille.= Perhaps they went Paris or Marseille.
➪ We can use can't but not can as a modal verb of deduction.
9. You ought to have paid more attention. Now we are lost.
➪ We can use should/ought to have + past participle to talk about a situation that we expected
to happen in the past, but it didn’t.
10. The window was broken, so the thieves must have got in through that window.
➪ The thieves must have got in through that window.= I'm quite sure the thieves got in through
that window.
11. Paul is behaving in a very unusual way. I think he might be drinking again.
➪ We use the continuous infinitive (be doing) after a modal verb to talk about actions in
progress.
➪ He might be drinking again = 'Perhaps he is drinking again.'
12. I think there might be a mistake in your tax return. You should check it.
a. I think there may be a mistake in your tax return. You should check it.
➪ We can use might or may to say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure.
➪ There could be a mistake = 'Perhaps there is a mistake.'
13. If Suzan said that, it must be true. She never lies.
➪ It must be true = 'I'm sure it is true.'
➪ Remember that you don't use can as a modal verb of deduction.
14. Sorry, but I'm not Connor. You must be confusing me for someone else.
➪ We use the continuous infinitive (be doing) after a modal verb for actions that are in progress
now or around now.
➪ You must be confusing me = ‘I'm sure you are confusing me.’

15. I'm not sure I trust Peter. He might not be the person we think he is.
➪ He might not be the person we think he is = 'Perhaps he isn't the person we think he is.'
➪ When we are sure something is not true, we use can't (NOT mustn't).
16. You have walked for ten hours. You must be exhausted.
➪ You must be exhausted = 'I'm sure you are exhausted.'
➪ Remember that you don’t use can as a modal verb of deduction.
17. He can't be his son, they look completely different.
➪ When we are sure something is not true, we use can’t (NOT mustn’t).
➪ He can't be his son = 'I'm (quite) sure he is not his son.' We don't use must not to talk about
probability.
18. There's a bit of traffic, so I might not arrive in time.

a. There's a bit of traffic, so I may not arrive in time.
➪ We can use may not or might not to talk about probability.
➪ I may/might not arrive in time = 'Perhaps I will not arrive in time.'
19. He can't be very proud of you right now. You disappointed him.
➪ When we are sure something is not true, we use can’t (NOT mustn’t).
➪ He can't be very proud of you = 'I'm (quite) sure he is not very proud of you'
20. I wouldn't swim in this river if I were you. It might be dangerous.

a. I wouldn't swim in this river if I were you. It may be dangerous.
➪ We can use might or may to say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure.
➪ It could/might be dangerous = ‘Perhaps it's dangerous.’
21. The phone is ringing. It must be Charlotte; she said she would call this morning.
➪ It must be Charlotte = 'I'm sure or quite sure that it is Charlotte.'
22. She can't be in love with him. She told me she hates him.
➪ She can't be in love = 'I'm (quite) sure she is not in love.'
23. He might be at the gym right now. Sometimes he goes there at this time.
➪ He might be at the gym = 'Perhaps he is at the gym.'
24. This is not possible. You can't be serious!
➪ You can't be serious = 'I'm (quite) sure you are not serious.'
25. If he drives a jaguar, he must be quite rich.
➪ He must be quite rich = 'I'm (quite) sure that he is rich.'
26. You should pick up the phone. It might be an important call.
➪ It might be an important call = 'Perhaps it is an important call.'
27. He must know the answer, he's the best in the class.
➪ He must know the answer = 'I'm (quite) sure he knows the answer.'
28. You might be right, but it's better if we check.
➪ You might be right = 'Perhaps you are right.'
29. He can't be in class. I saw him at the library a minute ago.
➪ He can't be in class = I'm (quite) sure he is not in class.
30. A: Who's at the door? B: I don't know; it may be John.
➪ It may be John = 'Perhaps it is John.'

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1. Nobody knows exactly why he died. But we think it might have been an accident.

➪ We can use can't but not can as a modal verb of deduction.

➪ It might have been an accident= Maybe it was an accident.

➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

➪ We can use must but not mustn't as a modal verb of deduction.

➪ We can use can't but not can as a modal verb of deduction.

9. You ought to have paid more attention. Now we are lost.

➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

➪ He might be drinking again = 'Perhaps he is drinking again.'

➪ There could be a mistake = 'Perhaps there is a mistake.'

13. If Suzan said that, it must be true. She never lies.

➪ It must be true = 'I'm sure it is true.'

➪ Remember that you don't use can as a modal verb of deduction.

➪ You must be confusing me = ‘I'm sure you are confusing me.’

➪ You must be exhausted = 'I'm sure you are exhausted.'

➪ Remember that you don’t use can as a modal verb of deduction.

17. He can't be his son, they look completely different.

18. There's a bit of traffic, so I might not arrive in time.

➪ We can use may not or might not to talk about probability.

➪ I may/might not arrive in time = 'Perhaps I will not arrive in time.'

20. I wouldn't swim in this river if I were you. It might be dangerous.

➪ It could/might be dangerous = ‘Perhaps it's dangerous.’

➪ It must be Charlotte = 'I'm sure or quite sure that it is Charlotte.'

➪ She can't be in love = 'I'm (quite) sure she is not in love.'

➪ He might be at the gym = 'Perhaps he is at the gym.'

24. This is not possible. You can't be serious!

➪ He must be quite rich = 'I'm (quite) sure that he is rich.'

26. You should pick up the phone. It might be an important call.

➪ It might be an important call = 'Perhaps it is an important call.'

28. You might be right, but it's better if we check.

➪ You might be right = 'Perhaps you are right.'

29. He can't be in class. I saw him at the library a minute ago.

➪ He can't be in class = I'm (quite) sure he is not in class.

30. A: Who's at the door? B: I don't know; it may be John.

➪ It may be John = 'Perhaps it is John.'

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