SPECULATIONS AND

DEDUCTIONS

SPECULATIONS AND DEDUCTIONS WITH MODAL VERBS

• IN THE PRESENT

• MUST + INFINITIVE: He must be a teacher (He has lots of exams to correct)

• MAY/MIGHT/COULD + INFINITIVE: He may/might/could be a teacher (He has a lot of holidays)

• CAN’T / COULDN’T + INFINITIVE: He can´t be a teacher (He works at the weekends)

SPECULATIONS AND DEDUCTIONS WITH MODAL VERBS

• IN THE PRESENT , but CONTINUOUS

• MUST + CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE: He must be working now (It is five o’clock)

• MAY/MIGHT/COULD + CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE: He may/might/could be working now (It is eight o’ clock)

• CAN’T / COULDN’T + CONTINUOUS INFINITIVE: He can´t be working now (It is ten o’clock)

SPECULATIONS AND DEDUCTIONS WITH MODAL VERBS

• IN THE PAST

• MUST + PERFECT INFINITIVE: He must have had a cold (He has not come to class)

• MAY/MIGHT/COULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE: He may/might/could have been ill (He has not come to class)

• CAN’T / COULDN’T + PERFECT INFINITIVE: He can´t have been ill (He looks really healthy)