4A - Present and past speculation/deduction

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo, vwo
• Leerjaar 3

Modals of deduction and probability

Present

100% zeker:

must +  hele ww.

50/50:

may/might/could+ hele ww couldn't mag niet

0% : kan absoluut niet:

can't + hele ww

Past

100% zeker:

must + have + volt. dw

50/50:

may/might/could 

+ have + volt. dw

0% : kan absoluut niet:

can't + have + volt. dw

Not 100% certain

may (not) = "misschien". Er is een grote kans dat het gebeurd.  May is erg formeel en wordt niet heel vaak gebruikt.

could = "zou kunnen". Er is een grote kans dat het gebeurd.

 wellicht 50-50%

might (not) = "heel misschien". 

Er is maar een kleine kans dat het gebeurd.

Practice!

Jullie gaan nu zinnen herschrijven.

Volg de volgende stappen:

step 1: Is it a present or past sentence?

              present --> modal + infinitive (hele ww)

              past --> modal + have + past participle

step 2: find the main verb                     (volt.dw)

Example: rewrite using MUST

"I'm sure it's a lion"

step 1: present 

              (modal + infinitive)

step 2:  is (to be)

It must be a lion.

Rewrite using MUST
"I'm sure it's cold out"

Rewrite using MIGHT
"It's possible it escaped from the zoo."

Rewrite using COULD

"Perhaps he's very hungry by now."

Rewrite using COULD

"It's possible it was somebody's pet."

Rewrite using MAY

"Perhaps it grew too big."

Rewrite using CAN'T

"I'm sure it isn't a lion."

Your teacher: You ... hand in your homework tomorrow or you will fail.

1. can
2. have to
3. must
4. should

You ... visit your aunt in hospital.

1. must
2. should
3. have to
4. can

She isn't answering the phone. She ... be out.

1. must
2. can't
3. might

They... be Spanish, they're speaking Portuguese.

1. must
2. can't
3. might

He ... have a job interview today - he's waiting to hear from the company.

1. must
2. can't
3. might

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