Share Modals of deduction/speculation
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I’m sure he’s not Michael Jackson. He died a few years ago! BE He _______________________ because he died a few years ago.
CAN'T BE MICHAEL JACKSON
It’s possible that in the sales cameras will be cheap enough for me to afford one. ABLE I __________________________ a camera in the sales if they are cheap enough
might/may be able to buy
I think Sarah isn’t very ill, because I saw her shopping this morning. BE Sarah ____________________ because I saw her shopping this morning.
can’t be very ill
Perhaps Filip is from the Czech Republic – he speaks Czech very well. COULD Filip ________________________ the Czech Republic because his Czech is very good.
could be from
He is so rich that I am sure he is always happy. MUST He is so rich that ________________ happy.
he must always be
He looks so pale that I’m sure he has seen a ghost. MUST He _________________ ghost because now he looks very pale.
must have seen a
I think Alice worked at a hotel last summer, but I’m not sure. MIGHT Alice ________________ at a hotel last summer.
might have worked
Jana speaks excellent Finnish so I’m sure she’s lived in Finland at some point. HAVE Jana ______________________ Finland at some point because she speaks excellent Finnish.
must have lived
Adam is so loud now that I’m sure he wasn’t a quiet child! BEEN Adam ____________________ a quiet child because he’s so loud now.
can't have been
She is so scared of dogs, that maybe a dog bit her when she was little. BITTEN She is so scared of dogs that she _____________________ a dog when she was little.
may/might/could have been bitten
I know he wasn’t in London on Saturday because I saw him in Newcastle. HAVE He _______________________ in London on Saturday because I saw him in Newcastle.
can't have been
She was so happy on Monday morning that I’m sure she had a good weekend. HAD She was so happy on Monday morning that _______________________ a good weekend.
must have had
I think Will’s tired because he didn’t sleep much yesterday. COULD Will ______________________ because he didn’t sleep much yesterday.
could be tired
She was probably in a hurry because she forgot to buy a birthday present for her friend, MIGHT She forgot to buy a birthday present for her friend and that ___________________ she was in a hurry
might/may have been why
