The document discusses modals of deduction for expressing possibility, probability, certainty, and negative deductions in the present and future tenses. It provides examples of using may/might/could to express speculation without evidence, must to make deductions when being almost sure, and can't to make negative deductions from evidence. There are also exercises asking the reader to identify the correct modal verb based on contexts in the present tense.

1. MODALS OF
DEDUCTION(Present
& Future)

2. Expressing possibility or
probability
MAY/MIGHT/COULD: to make
speculations (i.e. when there is no
evidence).
• She didn’t come to school today.
She may be ill.
• I might visit them tomorrow.
• I know what he says. But he
could be wrong.
MAY NOT/MIGHT NOT
• She may / might not come today.

3. Expressing certainty
MUST: to make deductions when we
are almost sure.
• Look at their house! They must be
really rich!
• He’s been working for 10 hours by
now. He must be very tired.
CAN’T: to make negative deductions
from evidence
• He can’t be at home. I saw him
leave 10 minutes ago.
• It can’t be him. He went to Canada
last week.

6. EXERCISES (Present time)
• He at home. I rang and there
is no answer.
• You tired when you come
home from 12-hour day at work.
• He home yet. He’s left 10
minutes ago.
• They away for the weekend but
I am not sure.
• Nobody is answering. They
out.
CAN’T BE
MUST BE
CAN’T BE
MAY/MIGHT/
COULD BE
MUST BE

7. EXERCISES (Present time)
• I to the cinema tonight but
I’m not sure yet.
• He from Texas, judging by his
accent.
• You right but I’m going to
ask the teacher anyway.
• He from the USA. He doesn’t
speak English.
• The exam easy.
You never know.
MAY/MIGHT GO
MUST BE
MAY/MIGHT/COULD BE
CAN’T BE
MAY/MIGHT/COULD BE

8. • She is discussing latest trends of the market.
a. She _________________________ (be) an
economist.
b. She _________________________ (be) a
politician.
c. She _________________________ (be) an
actress.
d. She _________________________ (be) a
teacher.
e. She _________________________ (be) a shop
assistant.

9. • The boy has a cup in his hands.
a. He _________________________ (fall) ill.
b. It _________________________ (be)
Sunday morning.
c. The cup _________________________
(be) hot.

10. • Is it winter?
• Are they friends?

11. • Is the girl in the supermarket?

12. • Is she in her sixties?

13. • Is she on the beach?

14. • Does she have a stomachache?
• Does she have a headache?

15. Make a guess 

16. Make a guess 

17. Make a guess 

18. Make a guess 

19. Make a guess 

20. Make a guess 

21. Make a guess 