MODAL VERBS FOR DEDUCTIONS

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Modal verbs for certainty

Certainty She must be tired. Probability-Where is Ann? - She should be at school right now. Possibility We might go to Chile next month. Impossibility It can’t be Josh, he is out of the city.

Modals

Third person singular has no – SShe must be tired (NOT: she musts…) Questions and negations are formed

without DOYou mustn’t go there! Should I? It cannot be true! After modals (except OUGHT) we use

infinitives without TOI can’t swim (NOT: I can’t to swim)

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Modals + infinitives

Modals can be followed by PERFECT PROGRESSIVE and PASSIVE infinitives

You should have told me earlier.

I should be studying, not playing with my phone.

They must be cured as soon as possible.

MUST

Use MUST when you are certain that something is true: She must be in the house – her car is

parked outside and the lights are on.

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CAN’T

Use CAN’T when you are certain that something is not true: She can’t be in the house – I took her to the

airport yesterday and saw her getting on a plane to Russia.

SHOULD/SHOULDN’T

Use SHOULD/SHOULDN’T when you are not sure that something or not, but you think there is a good possibility that you could be right: She should be home by now – she left her

office an hour ago. I can install this app myself – it shouldn’t be

too difficult.

OUGHT TO/OUGHT NOT TO

Has the same meaning as should and shouldn’t: I will ask my mom – she ought to know.

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WILL and WILL NOT/WON’T

WILL has a similar meaning to MUST, and WON’T has a similar meaning to CAN’T. We use WILL and WON’T when we talk about normal, typical actions which are expected: - There is someone at the door! - That will be Mary, she always returns home at this time. - Let’s go and get something to it. - No, the canteen won’t be open yet. Let’s go in an hour.

MAY/ MAY NOT

Use MAY/MAY NOT to express possibility: We may go to Chile next year. She may not be at home (Perhaps, she is

not at home)

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MIGHT and COULD

Express a smaller probability: We might/could go to Chile next year, but I

am not sure we will.

possib

ili

ty

100% - we will

0% - we won’t

we might/could

60% - may

NOTE:1. We may go to the cinema tonight. *There is a chance that we will go to the cinema* 2. We might go to the cinema tonight *There is still a chance that we will go, but the probability is much less than in the first sentence*

MIGHT and COULD

NOTE:CAN is not normally used to talk about probabilityShe MAY be at home (NOT: She can be at home)

CAN shows one’s ability to do something: I can swim, I can dance and it can be replaced with I AM ABLE TO

CAN = I AM ABLE TO

Let’s practice

Complete the sentences with the correct modal either in the positive or negative form, sometimes more than one option is possible

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Let’s practice

1. Alejandra ______ be able to translate it for you – she knows some Russian.

2. Look at this luxurious house! They ____ have a lot of money.

3. Could you help me install this app? It ______ take long.

4. - Someone is at the door? Do you think it _____ be Daniel?

- No, it _____ be Daniel. He is out of the country.

Let’s practice

5. Alina _____ still be at the office. She is always the last one to leave.

6. You have won a million dollars in a lottery??? It ____ be true!

7. Our team ____ possibly win today’s match. 8. Let’s hurry! We _____ still be able to catch the

train! 9. She _____ be his mother – they are almost the

same age. 10. Lorena ______ be out of the hospital yet. Her

operation is scheduled for tomorrow.

Have Fun Learning