Page 178 - Complete First B2 (third edition) Student Book

5 He can ’ t / mustn’t / didn’t have been to Moscow, because
MODAL VERBS TO EXPRESS CERTAINTY AND he doesn’t have a Russian visa in his passport.
POSSIBILITY
6 I was amazed by her performance. She couldn’t / can’t /
We use: mustn’t have spoken more convincingly in the debate.
• must to express certainty about the present: Q Match the beginnings and endings of these sentences.
He’s won four Olympic gold medals,so he must be highly
talented. 1 I think she might not have noticed that she
Note:We usually have a good reason for expressing this
certainty, e.g. He’s won four Olympic gold medals. 2 I think she may
3 Sometimes it can be
• can ’t or couldn’t in negative sentences (not mustn’t):
You can’t be hungry - you’ve just had dinner! 4 We could be late if we don’t
• must have + past participle to express certainty about the 5 She might not have
past:
6 Somebody could be
She must have calmed down before starting the talk, because
her delivery was perfect.
a remembered she was supposed to meet us at the airport ,
• can’t have and couldn ’t have + past participle in negative b difficult to understand her.
sentences:
She couldn't have fought harder to defend her point of view. c be delayed at the office ,
He can’t have lost his wallet - 1saw him holding it at the
supermarket checkout. d dropped her scarf when she got out of the taxi,
e in danger - 1 just heard a scream outside ,
• may, might or could to express possibility about the present
or future: f hurry up a bit.
They could challenge you over this topic.
I might comment later. Q Complete the sentences with a suitable modal verb. More
I may ask you to lend me some money. than one answer may be possible.
We might go on holiday after all, if we save enough money in 1 Mum says we be able to afford those
time. PDF from sachtienganhhanoi.com
We ’d better leave now because the traffic could be very heavy mountain bikes after all, even though they are quite
expensive.
later.
2 I absolutely love these earrings! You
• may not and might not (or mightn ’t) in negative sentences chosen a better present for me.
(not can’t or couldn’t):
Don’t wait up for me because I might not be back until after 3 He would never have said that to you. You
midnight. have heard him properly.

• may have, might have, could have, may not have, might not 4 You’d better book,otherwise you be sure
have + past participle to express possibility about the past: to get a seat.
His case felt very heavy. I think he may have picked up the 5 My phone isn’t in my bag.I left it at school.
wrong one at the airport and might not have noticed. That’s the only place it could be.
I’m astonished that she isn ’ t here yet. She’s usually so
punctual. I think she may have missed her train or she might 6 Let’s eat out tonight. I... have time to go to
not have bought the right ticket. the supermarket today.

PRACTICE
0 Choose the best modal verb in italics.

1 You must / might / may be exhausted - you haven’t been
to bed for two days!
2 He’s just started a postgraduate course, so he might /
could / must be very academic.

3 11can’t / mustn’t / might be John over there: he’s already
moved to Canada.
4 She must / will / may have revised very well,because her
exam results were outstanding.