Modal verbs III
Possibility and certainty
Possibility and certainty
Modal verbs of possibility are used to express an opinion of the speaker based on information that the speaker has.
Example: She must be at work, it's 10 o'clock. In this case, the speaker is 100 % sure that the person is at work based on the speaker's knowledge.
Modal verbs of possibility are used to express an opinion of the speaker based on information that the speaker has.
Example: She must be at work, it's 10 o'clock. In this case, the speaker is 100 % sure that the person is at work based on the speaker's knowledge.
Modal verbs expressing possibility, impossibility, or certainty are: can, could, may, might and must
| VERB | MODAL VALUE |
USE |
EXAMPLES |
| can | possibility/impossibility(-) in present or future |
+ - |
Learning Chinese can be a real challenge She can't be on drugs! I don't believe it |
| could | possibility/impossibility(-) in present or future |
+ - | They could be on the train Ian couldn't possibly go to jail for the crime. |
| may | possibility in present or future |
+ - | China may become a major economic power He may not arrive on time |
| might | possibility in present or future |
+ -? | Your purse might
be in the living room She might not come this afternoon |
| must | certainty or high possibility | + | He must be on drugs! Look at him! |
We are going to practice these modal verbs of deduction and possibility we have just learned in this section. Choose the correct option:
1. There are a lot of people in the shops. There _________ be good sales.
 |
| By Cliph, C. Commons |
a) must
| |
b) can't
| |
2. I'm not sure if Tom is coming. He __________ come later.
a) must
| |
b) might
| |
3. Sarah is talking to a blond guy. Her boyfriend has black hair so it ________ be him.
a) must
| |
b) can't
| |
4. Once you are in Toronto, you __________ visit the Niagara falls.
a) can't
| |
b) could
| |
5. It ________ rain this afternoon. You'd better take a coat.
a) can't
| |
b) may
| |
6. You should go to his lectures; you ________ learn something useful.
a) could
| |
b) must
| |
7. A: There's someone at the door, who can it be?
B: It ________ Nancy: she's away on holiday
B: It ________ Nancy: she's away on holiday
a) might
| |
b) can't
| |
8. He _______ be out. I'm phoning him home but he doesn't get the phone.
a) may
| |
a) must
| |
9. A: When are they coming?
B: I'm not sure. They _______ come on Friday, I suppose.
B: I'm not sure. They _______ come on Friday, I suppose.
a) can
| |
a) must
| |
10. I
don't know what to do in August: I ________ go
to the beach or perhaps I visit another country.
a) may
| |
a) can't
| |
Further knowledge