Modal verbs of deduction: Must, may, might, could, can’t

Modal verbs of deduction: Must, may, might, could, can’t

Exercise 2

Choose the correct modal verbs of deduction to complete the sentences below.

Please wait...

1The phone is ringing. It can'tmustcan be Charlotte; she said she would call this morning.

2She can'tmight notmust be in love with him. She told me she hates him.

3He can'tmightmust be at the gym right now. Sometimes he goes there at this time.

4This is not possible. You can'tmight notmust be serious!

5If he drives a jaguar, he can'tmightmust be quite rich.

6You should pick up the phone. It can'tmightcan be an important call.

7He canmightmust know the answer, he's the best in the class.

8You can'tcanmight be right, but it's better if we check.

9He mustcan'tmight not be in class. I saw him at the library a minute ago.

10A: Who's at the door?  B: I don't know; it mustcan'tmay be John.

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Modal verbs of deduction: Grammar chart

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May, might

We use may and might to talk about things that are possibly true, but we don’t know for sure.

• He’s more than 2 meters tall. He might be a basketball player. (=perhaps he is)
• He says Betty is his friend, but I think she may be his girlfriend.

We use may not or might not to talk about things that are possibly not true, but we don’t know for sure.

• You should call her. She might not know where you are. (=perhaps she doesn’t know)

Don’t use can for deduction

We don’t use can as a modal of deduction.

• He can be at home now.
• He might/may be at home now.

Must, can’t

We use must when we are sure, or quite sure, that something is true.

• You must be tired after the long journey. (=I’m sure you are tired)
• I’m sure I had the keys when I left. They must be in the car.

❗ But we use can’t (NOT mustn’t) when we are sure, or quite sure, that something is not true.

• We’ve been walking for hours. It mustn’t be far from here.
• We’ve been walking for hours. It can’t be far from here. 
• They’ve lived here only for a couple of months. They can’t know many people.

+ be + -ing

After may, might, must or can’t, we can use be + -ing, when we are talking about actions in progress.

• They’ve gone to Ibiza, and right now, they must be having a great time.
• Call him. He might be waiting for us.

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