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Modals of Deduction

This document provides examples of using modal verbs to make deductions about possible situations or events based on limited information. It includes exercises rewriting sentences using modal verbs of deduction like "must", "can't", and "might". The exercises cover filling in blanks in passages with the appropriate modal verb, completing dialogues, and rewriting sentences using perfect modal forms.

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648 views5 pages

Modals of Deduction

This document provides examples of using modal verbs to make deductions about possible situations or events based on limited information. It includes exercises rewriting sentences using modal verbs of deduction like "must", "can't", and "might". The exercises cover filling in blanks in passages with the appropriate modal verb, completing dialogues, and rewriting sentences using perfect modal forms.

Uploaded by

slavica_volkan
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modal Verbs of Deduction

A. Rewrite the following sentences, using must, can't, or might.


I'm sure Harry's at least sixty. ==> Harry must be at least sixty.
Perhaps he's having a party. ===>He might be having a party.

1. I'm sure he isn't very well off. His house is in a terrible mess.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.

____________________________________________________________
I'm sure he does a lot of gardening. His garden looks beautiful.
____________________________________________________________
I'm sure he's working in his garden now. I can hear someone digging.
____________________________________________________________
Now I can hear voices. Perhaps he's talking to Miss Appleby.
____________________________________________________________
No, I'm sure it isn't Miss Appleby. It's two men's voices.
____________________________________________________________
They're shouting. Perhaps they are having an argument.
____________________________________________________________
They're talking about money. Perhaps Harry owes the other man some money.
____________________________________________________________
There's a siren. I'm sure this is the police arriving
____________________________________________________________
Look at all those lights and cameras. Ah! Now I understand. Im sure they are
making a film!
____________________________________________________________

B. Fill in may/might/could, must or cant.

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Dave _____________ be at home. Hes still on holiday.


Its 11.00 a.m. Jim ____________ be at the office as he works from 9 to 5.
All the shops are open. It __________ be a public holiday.
Seza has left her purse here. She ___________ remember and phone me later.
Cem has eaten all day. He _______________ be hungry.

The little boy is trying to climb on the wall. He ____________ fall and hurt
himself.
7. Hasan looks much older than his brother. They ___________ be twins.

8. She ____________________ be working as a lawyer. She studied psychology.


9. He _____________________ be very rich. He has three cars, a yacht and
lives in a mansion.
10. A: Timmy can't find his little sister.
B: She _____________ be hiding in the wardrobe.
11. A:Why are all the lights on in their house?

B: They _________________________ be having a party. They always have a


party on Saturday evenings.
C. Complete the dialogues using may/might/could, must or cant.

1. A:
B:

A:
too.
B:
A:
2. A:
B:

Where is Linda Ramirez from?


Ramirez is a Spanish name. She __________ be from Mexico.
She______ be from Colombia. There are so many countries where
Spanish is spoken that it's hard to know for sure.
She_________be from the Philippines. Filipinos have Spanish names,

Where is Tran Nguyen from?


I know that's a Vietnamese name. He ____________be from Vietnam.
What time is it?
I don't have a watch. The sun is directly overhead, so it_________ be
about noon.
3. A:
Where's the teacher today?
B:
No one knows. She_________be sick.
4. A:
Does Yoko speak Japanese?
B:
She_________speak Japanese. She's from Japan.
5. A:
Where's Washington Avenue?
B:
I don't know. We're lost. There's a woman over there. Let's ask her.
She _________ know.
6. A:
Why is that student sneezing so much?
B:
I don't know. She_________have a cold, or it_________be an allergy.
7. A:
Is Susan married?
B:
She_________be married. She's wearing a wedding ring.
8. A:
Why didn't Joe come to the party?
B:
Who knows? He_________not like parties.
9. A:
I need to make some copies, and I don't have change for the copy
machine.
B:
I_________have some change. Let me look in my pocket.
10. A:
I've never lived far from my parents before.
B:
You_________ be missing them very much.
A:
I do.
11. A:
Look at that young couple. They're always holding hands, smiling at each
other, and kissing.
B:
They_________be in love.
12. A:
Linda never answers any questions in class.
B:
She_________be shy or she_________not know the answer to the
questions.
13. A:
I have a question about grammar.
B:
Let's ask the teacher. She_________know the answer.

14. A:

B:
answer.

I have a question about American history.


Why don't you ask our grammar teacher? He_________know the

D. Complete the sentences with the information in brackets in the correct form.
A:
Where's Kate? It's eleven o'clock in the morning!
B:
She _________________________ (can't/ still/ sleep). She usually gets up
early. She _________________________ (could/ stuck in the traffic). You know the
roads are sometimes very crowded in the morning, so she _________________
(might/ still/ drive) to work.
A:
Harry is packing his suitcase.
B:
He __________________________ (must/ go on holiday).
A:
Oh, no. He has a meeting in Barcelona tomorrow. He _____________________
(cant/ go on holiday). He ____________________________________ (must/ go on
a business trip).
A:
Jenny looks really unhappy. She _________________________ (may/ have a
problem.
B:
She __________________________ (must, miss, boyfriend). You know hes
been working in Germany since September.
A:
Where's this noise coming from?
B:
Ive seen some men in the garden. They _________________________
(could/ repair the garage).
A:
They __________________________ (cant/ repair the garage) because they
have already repaired it. It sounds like an engine working.
B:
Oh, then the neighbour nextdoor ______________________________
(might/ mow the grass).
E. Complete the dialogues with must, can't or might and one of the phrases in the
box.
cost a lot of money
go to Portugal
also be at the shops

be a soldier
come this weekend
be at the gym

work long hours


take much interest

1. Ruth: I think Ann's brother is in the army.


James:He ___________________________; he's only 15.
2. Bob: What are you going to do next summer?
Susan: I don't know. We ________________________, but it's not certain
yet.
3. Fred: Mike's new flat is all electric-kitchen, heating, everything.
Peter: That ___________________________________in electricity bills.

4. Sam:

Is Mary coming to see us this week?


Sally: It depends on her work She __________________________if she
finishes the project that she's doing.
5. Carol: Have Brian and Kim got any children?
Tom: Yes, they have two children, but they
___________________________ in them, because they never talk about
them.
6. Andrew: Do you see your new neighbours very much?
Sarah:
No, they _________________________, because they are hardly
ever at home.
7. Paul: Fred's gone out, hasn't he? Where has he gone?
Ann: I don't know. He _____________________ or he _______________.

REWRITES
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING USING PERFECT MODALS.
1-I didnt apologize. This was wrong of me.
2-I am sure it was Judy that I saw in Oxford Street this morning.
3-I didnt speak to her so I didnt ask her how she was. (if)
4-Perhaps she spent all her money when she was young.
5-I worked at weekends. Thats why I couldnt ring you up. (if)
6- Marys homework was very easy. There was no need for her father to
help her, but he did.
7-These workmen are very slow. It was impossible for them to finish the job
a month ago.
8-You are cold because you didnt wear a coat.
9-Our phone was cut off yesterday. Maybe I forgot to pay the bill.
10-He promised to get up early but he didnt. I am sure, he forgot his
promise.
11-I cannot find my ring. I probably lost it.
12-He had the opportunity of going abroad but he didnt.
13-It was inconsiderate of you to ring them up at midnight.
14-Mary had some bad news. Her eyes were red and swollen.
15-They believe the robber escaped through the backdoors. Here are his
footprints.
16-He didnt leave till 9.25.It was impossible for him to catch the 9.00 train.
17-He learned the language in six months. I believe he is a hardworker.
18-I am not certain. Perhaps Keats wrote this poem.
19-Who gave you my address? I do not remember. Maybe Tom.
20-I believe life was difficult in the Stone Age.
MAKE A POLITE REQUEST FOR THE GIVEN SITUATION.

1-You want to borrow your friends book.


2-You are at a gas station. You want the attendant to check the oil.
3-You want to make an appointment to see Dr.North.You are speaking to
his secretary.
4-You want to see your friends dictionary for a minute.
REWRITE THE FOLLOWING SENTENCES.
1-It is advisable for Tom to eat too much.
2-It is possible for The Whites to return home at 5.
3-It is possible that Tim knows his phone number.
4-I think it will be better for you to apologize to him.

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