• Author / Uploaded
• Jessie Watts

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We use must to make deductions when we are almost sure. For present time we use must + bare infinitive: He’s been working for 10 hours by now. He must be very tired. For past deductions we use must + have + past participle: He’d been working got 10 hours when I saw him. He must have been very tired. We use can’t to make negative deductions from evidence. For present we use can’t + bare infinitive: He can’t be at home. I saw him leave 10 minutes ago.

1 Complete the sentences about the

past: at home. I rang and

there is no answer. 2 You

We use may/ might / could to make speculations (i.e. when there is no evidence). We use may / might / coukd + bare infinitive for present: She didn’t come to school today. She may / might / could be ill. We use may / might / coukd + have + past participle for past: He may/might/ could have phoned while you were out. The answer phone was switched off. 2 Complete the sentences about the

present: 1 He

For past we use can’t + have + past participle: He can’t have failed the exam. He’s a very good student!

tired when you

1 He came home at 11 o’clock last night. He

(be) very tired.

2 He

(be) at the party

come home from 12-hour day at work.

last night. He went to Paris yesterday

3 He

morning.

home yet. He’s left

10 minutes ago. 4 They

3 You away for the

you passed your final exam.

weekend but I am not sure.

4 She

5 Nobody is answering. They 6I

out.

to the cinema

tonight but I’m not sure yet. 7 He

I saw the lights were out. 5 He

from Texas, judging

6 He

right but I’m going

(fall) the exam. I’m

7 She was late for her job interview. She (miss) the bus.

from the USA. He

doesn’t speak English. 10 The exam

(steal) the car. He

not sure yet.

to ask the teacher anyway. 9 He

(be) out last night.

was in jail at the time.

by his accent. 8 You

(be) happy when

8 He

(cause) the

accident. He is the most careful driver I easy. You

have ever met.

never know.

9 She

11 He’s been driving for 8 hours without making

last night but I’m not sure.

a stop. He

10 She didn’t come to school this morning.

very tired.

12 It hasn’t stop raining for two days. But with

She

some luck the weather

typical for her.

nice tomorrow.

11 He

(be) in the disco

(oversleep). It’s so (be) in the office at

2 o’clock but no one is sure.

KEY

1 Complete the sentences about the present:

1 He CAN’T BE at home. I rang and there is no answer. 2 You MUST BE tired when you come home from 12-hour day at work. 3 He CAN’T BE home yet. He’s left 10 minutes ago. 4 They MAY /MIGHT/ COULD BE away for the weekend but I am not sure. 5 Nobody is answering. They MUST BE

out.

6 I MAY/ MIGHT GO to the cinema tonight but I’m not sure yet. 7 He MUST BE from Texas, judging by his accent. 8 You MAY / MIGHT / COULD BE right but I’m going to ask the teacher anyway. 9 He CAN’T BE from the USA. He doesn’t speak English. 10 The exam MAY / MIGHT / COULD easy. You never know. 11 He’s been driving for 8 hours without making a stop. He MUST BE very tired. 12 It hasn’t stop raining for two days. But with some luck the weather COULD / MAY / MIGHT BE nice tomorrow. 2 Complete the sentences about the past: 1 He came home at 11 o’clock last night. He MUST HAVE BEEN (be) very tired. 2 He CAN’T HAVE BEEN (be) at the party last night. He went to Paris yesterday morning. 3 You MUST HAVE BEEN (be) happy when you passed your final exam. 4 She MUST HAVE BEEN (be) out last night. I saw the lights were out. 5 He CAN’T HAVE STOLEN (steal) the car. He was in jail at the time. 6 He MAY/MIGHT/COULD HAVE FALLEN (fall) the exam. I’m not sure yet. 7 She was late for her job interview. She MUST HAVE MISSED (miss) the bus. 8 He CAN’T HAVE CAUSED (cause) the accident. He is the most careful driver I have ever met. 9 She MAY/MIGHT/COULD HAVE BEEN (be) in the disco last night but I’m not sure. 10 She didn’t come to school this morning. She MUST HAVE OVERSLEPT (oversleep). It’s so typical for her. 11 He MAY/MIGHT/COULD HAVE BEEN (be) in the office at 2 o’clock but no one is sure.