GRAMMAR QUIZ 2 • ANSWER KEY
Group A
Speculating
Exercise 1
1 A: must have felt – Deduction about a past situation
(near certainty) supported by the second sentence (you
looked so pale).
2 A: can’t have completed – Deduction about a past
activity (near certainty) supported by the second
sentence (there hasn't been enough time).
3 B: must have been created – Deduction about a past
passive activity (near certainty) supported by the first
sentence (the art studio … is very old).
4 A: may be trying to revise – Speculation about an activity
in progress at the moment of speaking (possibility)
supported by the second sentence (that's why he's not
answering the phone).
5 B: may not realise it – Speculation about a present
activity (possibility).
6 A: will probably join: Prediction for the future
strengthened by the use of the adverb probably, which
is placed between the auxiliary verb will and the main
verb.
7 C: may sound – Speculation about a present activity
(possibility); the verb sound is a state verb in this context
and doesn’t have a continuous form.
Exercise 2
1 must have practised / must have been practising for:
Deduction about the past (near certainty); a long
time suggests an activity that started in the past
(before achieving this level of proficiency) and either
continuation (must have been practising) or overall
duration of the activity (must have practised).
2 may (not) have found: Speculation about the past
(possibility); by now suggests completion of the activity
(may have found).
3 must have been lent to: Deduction about the past
(near certainty) supported by the question in the past
preceding it; additionally, passive perfect infinitive is
used (have been lent) as it/the equipment is the subject
of the sentence.
4 can’t have learned: Deduction about a past activity
(near certainty) supported by the question in the past
following it (Did someone ...?).
© Pearson 2017    FOCUS 5    PHOTOCOPIABLE
Group B
Speculating
Exercise 1
1 B: could have been – Speculation about a state in the
past (possibility) supported by a reference to a past
activity (she didn’t answer the question).
2 C: can’t have revised – Deduction about the past (near
certainty) supported by the second part of the sentence
(he failed the exam).
3 A: could be preparing – Speculation about an activity
in progress at the moment of speaking (possibility)
supported by the second part of the sentence (they are
practising).
4 B: must have been written – Deduction about a past
passive activity (near certainty) supported by the second
part of the sentence (they were so hard); the word
questions as the subject of the sentence requires the
use of the passive.
5 B: may not have – Speculation about a present state
(possibility) supported by the first part of the sentence
(we don’t know enough).
6 A: definitely won’t teach – Promise not to do something
in the future strengthened by the use of the adverb
definitely; if the contracted form is used, the verb goes
before the whole contracted form.
7 B: may look – Speculation about a present activity
(possibility); the verb look is a state verb in this context
and doesn’t have a continuous form.
Exercise 2
1 may have studied: Speculation about a past activity
(possibility) resulting in and supported by present
evidence (the new lecturer speaks several languages
very well).
2 can’t have been doing this for: Deduction about the
past activity (near certainty), continuing in the present
supported by present evidence (he’s not exactly good
at it) and the use of for a long time requiring the perfect
form.
3 must have been established: Deduction about a past
passive activity (near certainty) supported by the use of
the past forms in the sentences that follow; the word
school as the subject of the sentence requires the use of
the passive.
4 must have taught her to / must have been teaching her
to: Deduction about the past activity (near certainty)
which started in the past (before achieving this level of
proficiency) and stressing either its continuation (must
have been teaching) or overall duration of the activity
(must have taught).