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Past modals of speculation

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  • They got out of the car in a rush. Something __________ (go) wrong. They wouldn't have done so otherwise.
    must have gone
  • Who told him my secret? It __________ (must/be) Ana, she is a gossip and nobody else knew.
    must have been
  • Ellen didn't forget Mary's number. (couldn't)
    Ellen couldn't have forgotten Mary's number.
  • The ending to that movie didn't surprise the fans. (might not)
    The ending to that movie might not have surprised the fans.
  • Donna's baby sister cried all night. I don't really know what was wrong, but an insect __________ (bit) her.
    might have bitten
  • They didn't understand the teacher's explanation. (may not)
    They may not have understood the teacher's explanation.
  • She _________ (could not/drive) there. Her car keys are still here.
    couldn't have driven
  • Sophie didn't get hit by a ball. (must not)
    Sophie must not have got/gotten hit by a ball.
  • The earthquake ____________ (must/be) terrifying.
    must have been
  • Mario went to the party by himself. (might)
    Mario might have gone to the party by himself.
  • I thought I saw Peter today, but it ___________ (couldn't/be) him, because he is in Rome this weekend.
    couldn't have been
  • He ___________(must/make) Mariana mad, because she spanked him.
    must have made
  • They _______ (may/not/be) friendly people.
    They may not have been friendly people.
  • Create sentences: Speculate about the past using may, might, could and must.
    Free answer
  • He __________ (could/have/become) a lawyer, but he doesn't like law.
    He could have become a lawyer, but he doesn't like law.
  • That strange noise woke up the baby. (must)
    That strange noise must have woken up the baby.
  • Choose the correct option: I can't remember my password! But I _________ (may have/ must have) written on my notebook as I sometimes do.
    may have
  • We saw more than 10 kinds of desserts at the party. (may)
    We may have seen more than 10 kinds of desserts at the party.
  • Jack: Where's Mum? John: I don't know, but her car's not here, so she __________ (go) out. I don't really know where she went though. She __________ (go) shopping.
    must have gone - might have gone
  • I'm not sure Sophie forgot the homework, the dog ________ (might/eat) it.
    might have eaten
  • Jane's ankle was swollen. She __________ (sprain) it. There's also a slim chance that she __________ (break) it.
    may have sprained - might have broken
  • The female excavator was rather pale when she got out of the cave. She __________ (got) scared by something she saw in there.
    must have got(ten)
  • Anna was out in the rain. She _________ (must not/bring) her raincoat.
    must not have brought
  • I thought I heard something crawling under the sofa last night. I couldn't be sure at that time, but it __________ (be) an insect of some kind.
    could have been / might have been
  • I can't find my car keys. I __________ (leave) them in my other bag, or perhaps I just forgot to take them from Jim.
    might have left
  • They cancelled their hiking plans. They__________ (read) about that bear who escaped from the central zoo.
    could have read / might have read / must have read
  • They took her to the hospital immediately. The spider __________ (be) poisonous.
    must have been
  • I think I __________ (might/leave) the air conditioner on. Can you check?
    might have left
  • Choose the correct option: Where's Mary? Her bag was here and her cellphone too, so she _________ (couldn't have / must have) gone home.
    couldn't have
  • I lost my friend's book. It's not in my bag. (may)
    I may have lost my friend's book. It's not in my bag.
  • He _________ (may/miss) the train.
    may have missed
  • Sophie didn't eat her snack. (must not)
    Sophie must not have eaten her snack.
  • Jonas thinks that bees are not beneficial to people. He __________ (read) the wrong information because bees are known to be very beneficial to the entire world.
    must have read
  • I don't know why she decided to have a change of career, but I have a strong feeling that she __________ (decide) she'd make more money as a vet.
    may have decided
  • Maria wasn't home last night. She could ____________(be) at her friend's house.
    have been
  • There was a horrid smell coming from the thrash bin. They __________ (forget) to collect it.
    must have forgotten
  • He refuses to go in the water. He __________ (see) a jellyfish.
    might have seen