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Modal Verbs of Deduction

The document provides a summary chart of modal verbs used for deduction in English including may, might, must, can't, and be + -ing. It explains that may and might are used to talk about possibilities, must is used when something is sure to be true, and can't is used when something is sure not to be true. It also notes that be + -ing can follow these modal verbs to talk about ongoing actions. An exercise is included to test understanding.

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Mehran Raza
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805 views5 pages

Modal Verbs of Deduction

The document provides a summary chart of modal verbs used for deduction in English including may, might, must, can't, and be + -ing. It explains that may and might are used to talk about possibilities, must is used when something is sure to be true, and can't is used when something is sure not to be true. It also notes that be + -ing can follow these modal verbs to talk about ongoing actions. An exercise is included to test understanding.

Uploaded by

Mehran Raza
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modal verbs of deduction – summary chart

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may, might
 
We use may and might to talk about things that are possibly true, but we don’t know
for sure.

 He’s more than 2 meters tall. He might be a basketball player. (=perhaps he


is)
 He says Betty is his friend, but I think she may be his girlfriend.

We use may not or might not to talk about things that are possibly not true, but we
don’t know for sure.
 You should call her. She might not know where you are. (=perhaps she
doesn’t know)

can
 
We don’t use can as a modal of deduction.

 He might/may be at home now. (NOT He can be at home now)

must, can’t
 
We use must when we are sure, or quite sure, that something is true.

 You must be tired after the long journey. (=I’m sure you are tired)
 I’m sure I had the keys when I left. They must be in the car.

But we use can’t (NOT mustn’t) when we are sure, or quite sure, that something is


not true.

 We’ve been walking for hours. It can’t be far from here. (NOT It mustn’t be
far)
 They’ve lived here only for a couple of months. They can’t know many
people.

+ be -ing
 
After may, might, must or can’t we can use be + -ing, when we are talking about
actions in progress.

 They’ve gone to Ibiza, and right now they must be having a great time.
 Call him. He might be waiting for us.
Exercise 1
Choose the correct modal verbs of deduction for each gap below.
Page 1 of 2

1Paul is behaving in a very unusual way. I think he ______ again.


a.can't drink
b.can be drinking
c.might be drinking

2I think there ______ a mistake in your tax return. You should check it. Choose
TWO correct options
a.can't be
b.might be
c.may be

3If Suzan said that, it ______ true. She never lies.


a.might be
b.must be
c.can be

4Sorry, but I'm not Connor. You ______ me for someone else.
a.might be confusing
b.must confuse
c.must be confusing

5I'm not sure I trust Peter. He ______ the person we think he is.
a.might not be
b.can't be
c.must not be

6You have walked for ten hours. You ______ exhausted.

a.can be
b.can't be
c.must be
7He ______ his son, they look completely different.

a.might be
b.can't be
c.must not be
8There's a bit of traffic, so I ______ arrive in time. Choose TWO correct options
a.might not
b.must not
c.may not
9He ______ be very proud of you right now. You disappointed him.

a.must not
b.can't
c.might
10I wouldn't swim in this river if I were you. It ______ dangerous. Choose TWO
correct options

a.might be
b.may be
c.can be
Exercise 3
Complete the dialogues with must, might, might not or can’t.

Dialogue 1
 

A: Someone is knocking at the door.

B: It 1   be the pizza delivery man. I ordered a pizza.


A: I know you ordered a pizza. But it 2   be him, because you ordered the
pizza five minutes ago.
B: Yes, you are right. Then it 3   be your sister.
A: No, it 4   be my sister, she's out of town.
B: Well, then just open the door; it 5   be important.
 

Dialogue 2
 

A: Why don't you tell me what is the matter with you?

B: Well, I should tell you something and I think you 6   like it.


A: Come on! Tell me what it is. It 7   be that bad.
B: I don't know. I'm afraid you 8   react badly.
A: Then I'm sure it 9   be serious. Please, tell me.
B: I saw Lindsey holding hands with another man.

A: What?

B: Please, I know you 10   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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