Modals of Deduction

 

MODALS OF DEDUCTION

To deduce is to form answers by thinking carefully about the available facts, the information we have. We guess the rest.

Modals of deduction are:

Must (probability, assumption, logical conclusion) In Spanish we use “ha de, debe...”

He isn’t moving. He has been lying there in the same position all day. He must be dead. (Ha de estar muerto)

Can’t (Impossibility) It cannot be true / It can’t happen.  (no puede ser)

A. Daddy, I’m hungry.

B. No, you can’t be hungry already. You’ve just eaten. (It’s impossible)

 

Might / May / Could (possibility, uncertainty) (perhaps, maybe) (talvés)

A. Just look at the sky.

B. Yeah, it might rain in a couple of hours.  (Talvés llueva)

 

A. We agreed to meet Jack here, but I don’t see him around.

B. He may still be home, or he could be on his way here.

     (Could = podría)

 

Exercise:

Choose the appropriate modal of deduction to complete the exercise.

1. A. What time does Mary go to bed?

     B. At about 10 pm.

     A. Oh, no. It’s 11:30. We definitely can’t call her now.

     B. No, certainly not. She __________ be sleeping now.

     a) may            b) must            c) can’t

 

2. A. Tell me, Bill. What are you going to do tomorrow?

     B. I don’t know. I _______ stay home all day.

      a) might         b) must          c) can’t

 

3.  A. Look! Isn’t it Joe’s car over there?

     B. Well, it really looks like his, but it _______ be his. Joe’s car is parked in my garage.

       a) might            b) must          c) can’t

 

4. A. Look! Is that a UFO?

    B. I don’t think so. It _______ be a UFO because it’s too easy to spot or shoot down.

        a) might           b) must           c) can’t

 

5. A. Who’s that over there?

    B. I don’t know. It _______ be somebody new because I can’t recognize him.

         a) might           b) must           c) can’t

 

6. A. What happened to Mary? Why do you think she’s crying?

     B. I have no idea. It ______ be something serious.

          a) might          b) must            c) can’t

 

7. A. Where is Rick? have you seen him?

     B. No, I haven’t. He _______ be in his room sleeping.

          a) might          b) must            c) can’t

 

8. A. Jack never talks to anybody. He’s always by himself.

     B. He _______ be very shy. Leave him alone.

          a) might          b) must            c) can’t

 

9. A. Look! There goes Molly, …and she’s pregnant.

    B. No, she ________ be pregnant again. Her baby is only two months old.

           a) might            b) must          c) can’t

 

10. A. Do you know where Jim works?

       B. No, not really. He _______ be working as a manager. He can hardly read or write.

           a) might            b) must           c) can’t

 

11. A. Do you remember Billy?

       B. The Plague? I do. He _______ be either dead or in jail. he was really ruthless.

            a) might            b) must           c) can’t

 

12. A. Look there! Up in the sky. What is it?

       B. It _______ be dust or smoke. It can’t be rain.

             a) might            b) must            c) can’t

 

                                                                                                                        Bijoukoba