Practice for modal verbs of deduction in the present and past. Examples and photos with activity and answers.

1. MODALS
What is the form for the: Present
simple/continuous
Past
S + modal + verb (base form)
S + modal + be + verb(ing)
S + modal + have + past participle
S + must + have + been + verb(ing)

2. MUST
You are sweating! You must be hot!
MAY
He is wearing a suit. He may work at a bank.
COULD
They look alike. They could be siblings.
MIGHT
She looks sad. She might be bored.
CAN’T
He’s kissing her! She can’t be his sister!
Modals of Deduction

3. Write sentences with modals of deduction. One in the present one in the past.
1
2
3
4

4. 5
6
7
8

5. 9 10

6. Write sentences with modals of deduction. One in the present one in the past.
She must be exhausted!
She could have been up all night.
She could be a
protester.
She can’t be excited.
She must have done
something illegal.
They might be
having an affair.
They may have
thought that
they were alone.
1
2
3
It must be
difficult to leave
the house.
There may have
been a storm.
4

7. The could be in a difficult situation.
They may have killed someone.
He must not have a car.
He might have received the goat for free.
5
6
7
It can’t be summer.
There must have been a snow storm.
8
The bear can’t be very happy.
The ice might have melted because
of global warming.

8. 9 10
He may be worried.
He might have spent his money.
He must have missed his flight!
He can’t be happy!