Scribd
Upload
33 views1 page

May Go May Have Forgotten: Modals of Possibility/Deduction

This document discusses the use of modal verbs to express possibility, deduction, and certainty in the present and past tense in English. It provides examples of how modals like may, might, could, must, and can't are used with infinitives or the present perfect form to talk about possible, probable, or certain events in the present or past. Key modals and their uses include may/might/could to discuss present or past possibilities, must to indicate present or past certainty, and can't to negate present or past certainty.

Uploaded by

Ana Maria Armero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
33 views1 page

May Go May Have Forgotten: Modals of Possibility/Deduction

This document discusses the use of modal verbs to express possibility, deduction, and certainty in the present and past tense in English. It provides examples of how modals like may, might, could, must, and can't are used with infinitives or the present perfect form to talk about possible, probable, or certain events in the present or past. Key modals and their uses include may/might/could to discuss present or past possibilities, must to indicate present or past certainty, and can't to negate present or past certainty.

Uploaded by

Ana Maria Armero
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 1

MODALS OF POSSIBILITY/DEDUCTION

PRESENT PAST
+ +
May/might/could + infinitive May/might/could + have+ past participle
Example: I may go to Ireland next summer Example: I may have forgotten the keys in the office. I
don’t find them!
- -
May not/might not + infinitive May not/ might not + have+ past participle
Example: I may not be able to go to your party. Example: If we are lucky, the class may not have started
yet.

MODALS OF CERTAINTY = certeza/seguridad


PRESENT PAST
+ +
Must + infinitive Must + have+ past participle
Example: He must be rich. He has a Ferrari! Example: Marc must have been here. They are his keys.
- -
Can’t + infinitive Can’t + have+ past participle
Example: It can’t be my father. He’s in Italy Example: He can’t have stolen the money. He was in
Prague last week.

You might also like