DEGREES OF CERTAINTY (MODAL VERBS)

As a revision of the modal verbs already seen, select the correct alternative in each case.
a) In my opinion, you ........... study more for next exam.
have to
must
b) How nice of you but you ............ so much trouble.
needn't have taken
didn't need to take
c) To drive in this country, you ............ a driving license.
should have
have to have
d) Mum, ............. I go out with my friends?
Should
Can
e) The man .............. swim to the shore and was the only survivor.
could
was able to
f) ............. speak to her so rudely
I think you shouldn't
I don't think you should
g) I got angry at her because she made a mistake and shouted at her.
You shouldn't have shouted at her
You shouldn't shout at her.
h) Teachers ........... wear a pinafore at certain schools.
mustn't
don't need to
i) "I can run". This sentence expresses....
Ability
Possibility
j) Long time ago, people ........... pay to officials of the church to be sure they would go to Heaven.
must have
had to
Once you have revised the ones we already know, let’s analyse the ones which show degree of certainty.
Certainty means that you are absolutely sure of an idea. Of course, if you have no doubt about
something, you don’t use any modal verb. That is why we speak about degrees of certainty: how
sure/certain you are about one thing. So you can be practically sure (but not totally) so you will use one
modal verb or you can thing that it is practically impossible and you will use a different modal verb.
To learn about this, let’s watch the following video and let’s see if you can sort out the different levels of
certainty that we can express.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=skqj4jOSQU4
After this first viewing, I am sure you have realized that in very general terms, the degrees that we can
sort out are:

PROBABILITY …………………………….. Of course this diagram is just a

POSSIBILITY………………………………….. representation. It simply tries to show that
probability is more certain than possibility
REMOTE POSSIBILITY……………………. and that remote possibility does not mean
IMPOSSIBILITY………………………………. that something is absolutely impossible.

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Let’s now focus on which modal verb to use in each case. Watch the video again and complete the
following chart:

DEGREE OF
MODAL VERB WHAT THEY EXPRESS ABOUT THE PAST
CERTAINTY
Confident that it will
WILL X
happen

PROBABILITY

 PROBABILITY
You have seen that there are three modal verbs to express probability. All of them show that you believe it
is highly likely that something will happen. However, what is the difference between them?

Will is used to make predictions. A prediction is an idea about the future that we believe probable
because we have facts or information that prove it likely.

Must is used to express inference or logical assumption. As the lady in the video explained, we have a
reason or an explanation for our certainty that functions as the only possible conclusion in that situation.

Should is used when our confidence is based on experience that we have about something.

Compare:
 According to the analysis of specialists from the University of Chicago, the economic
situation of our country will improve Little by Little in the following years.
(the analysis of data is the based for this prediction)

 There is a knock at the door. It must be Susan. She promised to come at this time.
(It is the most reasonable conclusion considering the time)

 I used to live in this neighbourhood. There should be a school round the corner.
(There was one when I lived here. It is likely that it is still there)

 POSSIBILITY
All these modal verbs express possibility: can, may, could, might. The idea of remote possibility is an
attempt to mark a difference among them. So is the idea of impossibility.

 It is generally said that CAN expresses a general (or theoretical) possibility, i.e. something which is
possible from the nature of the element we are speaking about.

All human beings can die. (it's the law of Nature)

Our peso can be devalued. (It is also possible that the dollar, the euro or any currency be devalued.
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  MAY, on the other hand, is similar to can but it expresses factual possibility, i.e. based on the
present facts and not as a general issue. It comes from the analysis of facts.

Jack is really ill. He may die at any moment (we consider his present situation)
The economic crisis has deepened and a sharp decision is necessary. Our peso may be
devalued.

 COULD and MIGHT indicate that the possibilities are fewer and that is why we identify them as
remote possibility, i.e I am not so sure that they will happen.

The doctors have stabilized Jack. There is no more infection but he needs to take care
or he might die.

 CAN'T is considered the negative of MUST as inference so there is a logical explanation for the
impossibility. COULDN'T is another possibility for the negative.

 CERTAINTY ABOUT THE PAST

MUST, CAN, MAY, COULD, MIGHT + HAVE + VERB IN THE PAST PARTICIPLE

They are used to speculate about the past. To speculate means to imagine facts that we are not sure
have happened. They show the same degree of certainty as in the present or future.

may have vs. might have

Both of them express that it is possible that something happened. However, if something was possible but
did not happen, you can only use might have

Compare
Bob had an accident last night. Any news about him?
No. Was the accident serious? He may have been badly hurt (but I don’t know)
Yes. I've talked to him. It was a really serious accident. He might have been badly
hurt (but he wasn't)

LET’S PRACTISE
1. Rewrite the following sentences using a suitable modal verb expressing degree of certainty.

a) Look at the girl waiting for her mother. I’m sure she is tired of waiting because she looks irritated.
b) Any person waiting possibly gets tired easily.
c) It is not possible that she is angry because she is waiting. I think it is a possibility that they didn’t
let her get into the Casino (2 modals)
d) She is under age. It is impossible that the guards let her in.
e) The mother has left her and has disappeared. Maybe, she went to the Casino.
f) Poor girl. I’m sure that is the reason why she is irritated.
g) Who is the boy with her? Her brother? He looks alike.
h) The girl left and returned some time later. Where was she? Perhaps in the park or at the cinema.
i) There is the mother. She looks sad. She didn’t win I’m sure.
j) Who is the other woman? A friend of her mother’s? A relative?

2. Rewrite the following sentences using the suitable modal verb (ALL OF THEM INCLUDED)

a) It is imperative that all visitors to the building site wear hard hats.
b) There is no obligation to get an international license to drive in this country.
c) It was stupid of the government to try to break the strike
d) All the citizens have the possibility of choosing their President.
e) There are few chances of getting the loan.
f) - Where is Tom? - I don’t know. At home, perhaps.

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 g) - No, It is not possible for him to be at home. I phoned him and he didn’t answer.
h) - Perhaps he didn’t hear the telephone ringing.
i) Children under 18 are allowed to drive a car if their parents agree.
j) According to a recent analysis, there is an imminent rise in prices.
k) Why are we required to state ethnic origin on official forms these days?
l) It would have been polite to let us know you were coming
m) It is not necessary for my sister to know how to use a computer at work.
n) In my opinion, the most convenient solution is to start again.
o) Perhaps Jim took it; or Tom. They were in the office all day yesterday.

FOR MORE PRACTICE, SEE CHAPTERS 13, 14 & 15 IN YOUR GRAMMAR BOOK.

KEY TO THE ACTIVITIES IN THIS LESSON

DEGREE OF
MODAL VERB WHAT THEY EXPRESS ABOUT THE PAST
CERTAINTY
WILL Confident that it will happen X
PROBABILITY MUST Confident because there is an explanation MUST HAVE Past. Part
SHOULD You believe it to be true SHOULD HAVE Past Part
POSSIBILITY CAN General possibility COULD
MAY Possible MAY HAVE Past Part.
REMOTE
COULD Less possible COULD HAVE Past Part
POSSIBILITY
MIGHT Less possible MIGHT HAVE Past Part
IMPOSSIBILITY CAN’T – COULDN’T impossible CAN’T HAVE Past Part

1. Rewrite the following sentences using a suitable modal verb expressing degree of certainty.

a) The girl must be tired

b) Any person waiting can get tired
c) She can’t be angry because she is waiting. She might have been expelled from…
d) They can’t have let her in.
e) The mother could have gone to the Casino.
f) That must be the reason why she is irritated.
g) The boy must be her brother
h) She may have gone to the park or to the cinema.
i) The mother must have lost in the Casino. Or She can’t have won…
j) The other woman can be a friend or a relative.

2. Rewrite the following sentences using the suitable modal verb (ALL OF THEM INCLUDED)
a) Visitors have to wear hardhats in the building site.
b) You don’t have to get an international license to drive in this country.
c) The Government should have tried to break the strike.
d) All the citizens can choose their President
e) You might get the loan
f) Tom could be at home
g) He can’t be at home
h) He may have not heard the phone.
i) Children under 18 can drive a car if their parents agree.
j) There will be an imminent rise in prices.
k) Why do we have to state ethnic origin on official forms?
l) You should have let us know you were coming.
m) My sister doesn’t have to know how to use a computer at work
n) We should start again.
o) Jim or Tom may have taken it.