Modal Verbs of Probability
MUST
Examples They must be in Spain by now.
She must have done well on the test.
Usage Use 'must' plus the verb when you are 100% (or almost 100%) sure that something is the case
He must be a homeless person
He must have had a bad day
He must have walked the whole day
He must be pretty old
He must be very tired
He must be a shame for his family
He must be poor
He must be sick He must be a blue collar worker He must have a family somewhere He must be in his forties
He must be drunk
MIGHT, MAY
Examples She might come this evening.
David may invite Jesica to the match. Jack might have gone to France.
Usage Use 'might' or 'may' to express an opinion that you think has a good possibility of being true.
He might be drunk and stoned
He might have suffered a loss
He might have walked the whole day
He may be ill His legs might hurt
He might have hurt his knee while working
He may be tired
He might be content
He might have a good wife, as his clothes are clean and he wears a wedding ring
He might have to wait for his boss to assign a new task to him He might have worked a lot up to now He might be a farmhand
COULD
Examples Jane could be at work. Peter could have arrived late.
Usage Use 'could' to express a possibilty which is one of many. This form is not as strong as 'might' or 'may'. It is just one of a number of possibilities.
He could be looking for a place to stay
He could have a
He could have run away from an asylum
headache
He could be resting
He could have remembered something painful
He could have had an important conversation on the phone
He could be doing several things at the same time
He could be preparing to redial a phone number whilest handing a paper to his secretary
He could have been shot from the back
He could have received a good email
He could be yawning
He could be shouting with joy
CANT
Examples You can't be serious! They can't have worked until late.
Usage Use 'can't' to express an opinion that you are 100% sure is NOT true.
Notice that the past form remains 'can't have done'
He cant be rich
He cant have had a good day He cant have had an easy life
He cant be a drug addict
He cant be well
This car cant be sold, its You cant drive this car, too rusty the police will fine you The owner of the car cant have kept it in a garage
This car cant be only five years old, its too rusty
This car cant be painted
This cant be Toms car, its too rusty
This car cant pass the technical inspection, its too rusty
In the present:
Subject Modal Base Form Objects
I You He, She We They must be might be could be can't be at work.
In the past:
Subject Modal Base Form Objects
I You He, She We They must have left might have left could have left can't have left early.
Lets try our hand...
MUST Where is David? He (be) BE Classes begin at 8.
CANT She (think)THINK It's crazy!
at school.
that it is a good idea.
I'm absolutley sure!. They (arrive) ARRIVED MUST HAVE yesterday, I saw their ticket.
Courses (begin) MAY BEGIN MIGHT/ September.
on the fifth of
Are you joking! David CANT HAVE GONE (go) to Paris last week. He doesn't have enough money.
COULD They (live) LIVE
in New York, but I'm not sure.
MUST The concert (be) HAVE BEEN wonderful last night. Fiore is a great conductor.