Advanced Modals | Baamboozle - Baamboozle | The Most Fun Classroom Games!

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: We _____ travel to the moon and Mars, but we _____ travel to Pluto.

will/might be able to / won't/might not be able to (we can't use "can" for future speculation)

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: John isn't here. He _____ (decide) not to come or perhaps he's just late.

could / may / might have decided

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: You _____ get blood from a stone.

can't (can't means "it's impossible" while couldn't would mean "I think it's impossible")

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: Who _____ that be at this time of night?

can / could

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: My keys aren't in this bag. I ______ (lose) them.

must have lost

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: He _____ (not be) at the party, as he was in New York.

can't / couldn't have been

SPECULATION / DEDUCTION: There _____ (be) life on other planets.

may / might / could be

ABILITY: They _____ (try) harder to make me feel welcome.

couldn't have tried

She _____ (pay) by credit card, but she used cash instead.

could have paid / was able to pay

ABILITY: Despite being a mechanic, Mike _____ fix his car when it broke down yesterday.

couldn't / wasn't able to

ABILITY: Mikes car broke down but fortunately he _____ repair it.

was able to (can is not used for a single occasion)

ABILITY: Mozart _____ (play) the piano at the age of five.

could play / was able to play

ABILITY: I think _____ (I smell) something burning in the kitchen.

I can smell (we don't use "be able to" with senses)

ABILITY: _____ (I speak) fluently by the end of the course?

Will I be able to speak (can may not be used for a FUTURE ability)

ABILITY: Do you think he _____ (climb) Mount Everest?

will manage to climb (this is the best option because it is difficult)

ABILITY: This book _____ (use) by complete strangers.

can be used (we don't usually use "be able to" in the passive)