The document discusses different modal verbs and expressions used to indicate probability or possibility. It provides examples of how terms like "can", "may", "could", "might", "should", "must", "cannot", etc. are used to convey varying degrees of likelihood from positive certainty to complete impossibility. It also includes examples of assessing the probability of different events occurring and who is most likely to do certain things.

1. LIKELIHOOD

2. Possibility without reference
to past, present or future
CAN He can sound off-key at times when he sings
Possibility with reference to
the future, present or past
COULD
MAY
MIGHT
It may be a good concert
It might have been a good concert
Negative possibility
MAY NOT
MIGHT NOT
Get your ticket for the concert, there may
not be many left
Deduction
MUST BE / MUST HAVE BEEN
WILL BE / WILL HAVE BEEN
SOULD BE /SHOULD HAVE BEEN
You must be tired after your performance.
She should have been able to sing at the
concert, her sore throat was much better.
Impossibility
CANNOT / CAN’T
COULD NOT
It can’t be a
fl
ute, it sounds like a clarinet.
Criticism or irritation
COULD
MIGHT
You could practice a bit more.
You might have told me you’d be coming.

3. The birth of another Mozart
CAN | MAY | COULD | MIGHT | SHOULD | MUST BE | CAN’T BE
Without a doubt
I’m positive that…
I’m absolutely sure
I have no doubt that…
I’m a hundred percent certain
I’m convinced that…
Perhaps / Maybe
There is a slim chance…
The chances are…
It’s not very likely
I wouldn’t bet on it
I seriously doubt it
I don’t think so
Probably not
I’d be very surprised if
that happened
That’ll never happen
How likely is it?

4. CAN | MAY | COULD | MIGHT | SHOULD | MUST BE | CAN’T BE
Without a doubt
I’m positive that…
I’m absolutely sure
I have no doubt that…
I’m a hundred percent certain
I’m convinced that…
Perhaps / Maybe
There is a slim chance…
The chances are…
It’s not very likely
I wouldn’t bet on it
I seriously doubt it
I don’t think so
Probably not
I’d be very surprised if
that happened
That’ll never happen
An asteroid hitting the Earth How likely is it?

5. People having brain transplants
CAN | MAY | COULD | MIGHT | SHOULD | MUST BE | CAN’T BE
Without a doubt
I’m positive that…
I’m absolutely sure
I have no doubt that…
I’m a hundred percent certain
I’m convinced that…
Perhaps / Maybe
There is a slim chance…
The chances are…
It’s not very likely
I wouldn’t bet on it
I seriously doubt it
I don’t think so
Probably not
I’d be very surprised if
that happened
That’ll never happen
How likely is it?

6. English no longer being the language of the internet
CAN | MAY | COULD | MIGHT | SHOULD | MUST BE | CAN’T BE
Without a doubt
I’m positive that…
I’m absolutely sure
I have no doubt that…
I’m a hundred percent certain
I’m convinced that…
Perhaps / Maybe
There is a slim chance…
The chances are…
It’s not very likely
I wouldn’t bet on it
I seriously doubt it
I don’t think so
Probably not
I’d be very surprised if
that happened
That’ll never happen
How likely is it?

7. Electric cars taking over from petrol-driven ones
CAN | MAY | COULD | MIGHT | SHOULD | MUST BE | CAN’T BE
Without a doubt
I’m positive that…
I’m absolutely sure
I have no doubt that…
I’m a hundred percent certain
I’m convinced that…
Perhaps / Maybe
There is a slim chance…
The chances are…
It’s not very likely
I wouldn’t bet on it
I seriously doubt it
I don’t think so
Probably not
I’d be very surprised if
that happened
That’ll never happen
How likely is it?

8. New Zealand winning the football World Cup
CAN | MAY | COULD | MIGHT | SHOULD | MUST BE | CAN’T BE
Without a doubt
I’m positive that…
I’m absolutely sure
I have no doubt that…
I’m a hundred percent certain
I’m convinced that…
Perhaps / Maybe
There is a slim chance…
The chances are…
It’s not very likely
I wouldn’t bet on it
I seriously doubt it
I don’t think so
Probably not
I’d be very surprised if
that happened
That’ll never happen
How likely is it?

9. Who is most likely to…?
•Look at their smartphone while in class?
•Move to another country?
•Go to a Justin Bieber concert?
•Listen to jazz music?
•Become millionaire?
•Win a Nobel Prize?
•Find the cure for a disease?
•Get one million followers on Instagram?
•Get a snake pet?
•Date a celebrity?
•Dye their hair green?
•Become a stand-up comedian?
•Be in a reality show?
•Join the FBI?