must can’t could may / might should
90-100 % 90-100 % 30-50 % 30-50 % expected to be
sure it’s true sure not true sure it is sure sure it is or true
not sure
+ infinitive
we are quite quite sure that it’s possible that something is situation that we
sure that something is true (but we are not sure) expect to
something is not true happen (present
true or future)
Look at their He’s just left. I can’t get hold of him on the He should be
house. They He can’t be phone. He could / may / might home by now.
must be rich. too far. be away. He is always
home before 7.
+ be + ing
sure that sure that it’s possible that something is
something is something is happening now (but we are not
happening not sure)
now happening
now
What you are They can’t be Why isn’t she picking up her
saying is not travelling by phone. – She could / may/
possible. You bus. There is might be driving.
must be no bus service
kidding. on Sundays.
+ have + past participle
quite sure that quite sure that it’s possible that something was a situation
something was something did true or happened in the past expected to
true or not happen or happen in the
happened in was not true !!! could have+ PP – past
the past in the past something was possible in the
past but did not happen.
I can’t find my You can’t If they left at 9, they could / He should have
wallet! I must have seen might / may have already received the
have dropped John last arrived. parcel yesterday.
it in the taxi. night. He was I sent it two
in hospital. !!! He could have had better days ago.
jobs if he had spoken English.
+ have been + ing
quite sure that quite sure that it’s possible that something was a situation
something was something did true or happened in the past expected to
true or not happen or happen in the
happened in was not true past
the past in the past
He must have She can’t She couldn’t She didn’t He should have
been sleeping have been have been answer. She been studying
when the fire waiting long. waiting long. may / might for his exams,
started. have been but he wasn’t.
having a
shower.