The document discusses the use of modal verbs to make guesses or speculate about different situations. It explains that must is used to express something that is certain or highly probable, can't is used to express something that is certainly not the case or highly improbable, and may and might are used when there is a possibility of something happening, with may indicating a higher chance than might. It also discusses using modal verbs of speculation plus different verb forms like be + -ing, have + past participle to make guesses about actions in progress or things that happened in the past.

1. TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE THE PAST MODALS OF SPECULATION

2. MODALS OF SPECULATION TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE

3. TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT THE PRESENT OR THE FUTURE MUST MAY MIGHT COULD CAN’T + INFINITIVE

4. MUST We use it to express that something is certain or highly probable . If A is bigger than B, and B is bigger than C… … then A must be bigger than C. Mary keeps crying – she must have a problem.

5. She must be tired

6. He must be angry

7. CAN’T We use it to express that something is certainly not the case or highly improbable . It can’t be the postman at the door. It’s only seven o’clock. She can’t have a 10-year-old daughter! She’s only 24!

8. He can’t be poor

9. MAY vs MIGHT We use them when there is a possibility of it happening. I may go to Edinburgh tomorrow (Perhaps a 50% chance) Peter might come with me (Perhaps a 30% chance. It is possible but not very likely to happen)

10. MODALS OF SPECULATION TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT ACTIONS IN PROGRESS NOW

11. TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT ACTIONS IN PROGRESS NOW MUST MAY MIGHT COULD CAN’T + BE + - ING

12. TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT ACTIONS IN PROGRESS NOW Do you know where Ben is? I don’t know, he may_____________ to music in his room. Have you seen the newspaper? I think James picket it up. He may _________ it. be listening be reading

13. They must be gossiping

14. He must be sleeping

15. MODALS OF SPECULATION TO MAKE GUESSES ABOUT THE PAST

16. TO MAKE GUESSES OR TO SPECULATE ABOUT THE PAST MUST MAY MIGHT COULD CAN’T + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

17. MAKE GUESSES OR SPECULATE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SITUATION He must have won the race

18. MAKE GUESSES OR SPECULATE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SITUATION They must have lost the match

19. MAKE GUESSES OR SPECULATE ABOUT THE FOLLOWING SITUATION They may have hit the jackpot

20. She may have lost her keys

21. She must have put on weight

22. They must be having a row