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Modals of Deduction

The document discusses English modal verbs such as "must", "have to", "may", "might", "can't", and "couldn't" which are used to express deduction and contention. It provides examples of how these modal verbs are used to state the speaker's level of certainty about something. Specifically, it explains that: 1) "Must" is used when the speaker feels sure something is true due to strong evidence. 2) "Might", "may", and "could" are used when the speaker thinks something is possible but isn't certain. 3) "Can't" is used when the speaker feels sure something is not true. An exercise is included to have

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161 views2 pages

Modals of Deduction

The document discusses English modal verbs such as "must", "have to", "may", "might", "can't", and "couldn't" which are used to express deduction and contention. It provides examples of how these modal verbs are used to state the speaker's level of certainty about something. Specifically, it explains that: 1) "Must" is used when the speaker feels sure something is true due to strong evidence. 2) "Might", "may", and "could" are used when the speaker thinks something is possible but isn't certain. 3) "Can't" is used when the speaker feels sure something is not true. An exercise is included to have

Uploaded by

DanielaElenaGuraliuc
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Week 28th – 9th grades (A/B/C)

Modals of Deduction
The English modal verbs “must”, “have to”,”may”, “might” “can’t” and
“couldn’t” are used to express deduction and contention.
Modal verbs are used to state how sure the speaker is about something.

Modals of Deduction: Must

We use must when we feel sure that something is true because there’s very


strong evidence.
1. He must be around here because his car is parked there
2. You are pilot, that must be interesting
3. You have worked all day, you must be tired
4. He has an expensive car, he must have some money
5. He must live near here because he comes to work on foot.
6. She’s not here. She must be in the kitchen.
7. You’re a zookeeper? That must be very interesting.
8. Her son is at university so she must be at least 40
9. Carla works every day from 9 AM to 5 PM so she must be at work
10.She isn’t answering the phone, she must be out
11.He drives an expensive car, he must have a good job
We use must have and couldn’t have plus the past participle of the verb to
draw a conclusion about what happened in the past

 Sheila got a tan. She must have spent a lot of time in the sun lately.

Modals of Deduction: Might, May and Could

We use might, may or could to say that we think something is possible but


we’re not sure.
1. I heard a noise, there might be a cat on the roof
2.  He might be in his bedroom
3. He might be in the Gym, sometimes he goes there
4. Don’t eat it! It could be poisoned!
5. Jerry is very tall so he might be good at basketball.
Week 28th – 9th grades (A/B/C)

6. She is busy, she might not be able to come tonight


7. Don’t put it up there. It could fall off and hit someone.
8. They might be some kind of small pig.
9. She might be going to Australia.
10.She might have taken those photos in China.

Modals of Deduction: Can’t

We use can’t when we feel sure something is not true.


1. He can’t be dead, I just talked to him on the phone
2. It can’t be a mechanical problem, the car is new
3. That can’t be James, James wears glasses
4. My wallet can’t be in my backpack, I already checked there
5. She can’t be a mother, she’s only 14!
6. He can’t be in prison, I saw him yesterday in a pub.
7. They can’t be Spanish, they’re speaking Portuguese
8. That looks like tomato juice, but it can’t be, that would be too easy.

Modals of Deduction Exercise

A: Hey, what is the matter with you?


B: Well, I have to tell you something and I think you
1)_________________ like it.
A: Come on! Tell me what it is. It 2)_________________ be that bad.
B: I don’t know. I’m afraid you 3)_________________ react badly.
A: Then I’m sure it 4)_________________ be serious. Please, tell me.
B: I saw Lindsey holding hands with another man.
A: What?
B: Please, I know you 5)__________________ be upset right now, but…
A: Dude, Lindsey and I broke up more than a year ago. Didn’t you know?

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