This document discusses modals of probability in English. It explains the uses of might, could, must, and can't to express varying degrees of probability in the present and past tenses. Specifically, it states that must is used to express near certainty, might expresses possibility, could shows something is possible, and can't denies possibility. Examples are provided for each modal. The document also briefly discusses the verbs look and look like.

1. Modals of probability
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2. Present
• Ex. - She might work late tonight.
- I may have dinner at 7:00pm.
Structure:
S + must/might/could/can’t be + infinitive without to

3. Present
• must - use when you feel 100% or almost 100% sure
that something is true.
ex. They’re playing really well today, they must win.
• might - use to express an opinion that you think has
a possibility of being true.
ex. He might get the job.

4. Present
• could – use to show something is possible in the
present.
ex. My keys could be in the car.
• can’t – use to express an opinion that you
are 100% sure is not true.
ex. He can’t play football today.

5. Past Modals of Probability
must/can’t/might have been

6. • S+ must have + past participle
• Use 'must' plus the verb when you are 100% (or
almost 100%) sure that something is the case in the
past.
Example:
*He must have already gone.
*They must have left early.

7. • S+ can't have + past participle
• Use 'can't' to express an opinion that you are 100%
sure is NOT true or believe something was impossible
in the past.
Example:
*He can't have stayed at home.
*She can't have said that.

8. • S+ might have been + past participle
• Use 'might' or 'may' to express an opinion that you
think has a good possibility of being true or was
possible that something happened in the past (but
we are not 100% sure).
Example:
* The road might have been blocked.
(I think the road was blocked, but I’m not 100% sure.)

9. Look
• Look
Structure : Look + adjective
Use to describe the characteristic of people
or feeling
Ex. She look sad

10. Look like
• Look like
Use to compare two things
Ex. Its look like a leaf, but it’s an insect

11. References
• http://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/modal-verbs-of-
probability.html
• http://esl.about.com/library/grammar/blmodalprob.htm
• http://www.learnenglish-
online.com/grammar/modals/possibility.html