Modal Verbs

Deduction
We can use modal verbs for deduction – guessing if something is true using the available information. The modal verb we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility.

Must – sure that something is true.

Can’t / couldn’t – sure that something is NOT true.

Could / may / might – not sure about something.

PRACTICE. Rewrite the sentences using the modal verbs.

0. It is possible that he is miserable because he is feeling unwell. (could)

He could be miserable because he is feeling unwell.

1. She just smiled at me so I am certain she is
not angry with me anymore. (can’t)
1. She just smiled at me so I am certain she is not angry with me anymore. (can’t)

She just smiled at me so she can’t be angry at me anymore.

2. I am sure he is over the moon after getting
those brilliant grades. (must)
2. I am sure he is over the moon after getting those brilliant grades. (must)

He must be over the moon after getting those brilliant grades.

3. It is quite likely that she will not be happy
with what you have suggested. (may not)
3. It is quite likely that she will not be happy with what you have suggested. (may not)

She may not be happy with what you have suggested.

4. It is possible he will get fed up if you ring
him too often. (could)
4. It is possible he will get fed up if you ring him too often. (could)

He could get fed up if you ring him too often.

In this internet cafe, downloading music
illegally is not tolerated. (mustn’t)
In this internet cafe, downloading music illegally is not tolerated. (mustn’t)

In this internet cafe, you mustn’t download music illegaly.

Karl: Isn’t that Stefan’s wallet?
James: He must have left it here when he came round.

Notice how ‘must have’ is pronounced. This is called

Linguistic Reduction.

must have -> must’ve

/mʌst hæv/

/mʌstəv/ <- Only when following word begins with a consonant

/mʌstə/ <- Only when following word begins with a vocalic

sound
These combinations are normally reduced.

- might have -> might’ve

- could have -> could’ve

- would have -> would’ve

- may have -> may’ve

PRACTICE. Complete the responses with your own ideas.

0. “Isn’t that Stefan’s wallet?”

“He must have left it here when he came round.”
1. “Where is Martin?
He’s late again.”
“He might have ______
___________________”
2. “Your car’s Rolling
down the hill!”
“Oh no! I must have
___________________”
3. “I asked for ham, not
jam.”
“Oh sorry, I must have
_________________”
4. “Marcela hardly ate
any of her pasta.”
“She can’t have _______
_________________”
5. “I recognise that guy
over there.”
“Me too. I think he
might have
______________”
6. “Justine still hasn’t
replied to my text.”
“That’s not like her. She
can’t have___________”
7. “Guess what? I just
saw Lydia wearing my
green jacket.”
“That’s a bit rude. She
could _____________”
8. “Tony completely
ignored me when I
waved at him.”
“Don’t be so sensitive,
he must not have
___________”
PRACTICE
Read the newpaper headlines and complete the
comments using may/might, must or can’t and the
verbs in the brackets.

1,000 jobs to be cut at car factory next year

0. The factory workers must be feeling (feel)

nervous.
 Teachers furious over pay cuts

1. I guess that means they _________ (go)

on strike.
 Teachers furious over pay cuts

1. I guess that means they might go (go) on

strike.
 Gallery owners shocked
as 2 Picassos go missing

2. Two Picassos? They ______ (be) worth a fortune!

 Gallery owners shocked
as 2 Picassos go missing

2. Two Picassos? They must be (be) worth a fortune!

 Embarrassed politician
resigns after latest scandal

3. I wonder what he did. He ____ (accept) a bribe or misspent public money.

 Embarrassed politician
resigns after latest scandal

3. I wonder what he did. He may/might have accepted (accept) a bribe or misspent public money.
Petrified walkers spot lion in field

4. It _____(escape) from the zoo.

Petrified walkers spot lion in field

4. It must have escaped (escape) from the zoo.

Motorists stranded as blizzard strikes

5. There _____ (be) much warning.

Motorists stranded as blizzard strikes

5. There can’t have been (be) much warning.

More flood misery this weekend

6. They ____ (predict) heavy rain.

More flood misery this weekend

6. They must have predicted (predict) heavy rain.

Man drives wrong way down motorway

7. He ____ (pay) attention.

Man drives wrong way down motorway

7. He can’t have been paying (pay) attention.

EXAM PRACTICE
For questions 1-8 read the text below and think of the word which best fits each gap. Use
only one word in each gap. There is an example at the beginning (0). Write your answers
IN CAPITAL LETTERS.
How colours affect our emotions
Have you ever wondered (0) why fast-food
restaurants are so often decorated in red and yellow?
It’s all to do (1)____ colour psychology. There is
scientific evidence that colour affects our moods
both consciously and subconsciously. Colours are
generally associated with two types of emotion.
Warm colours (2) ___ as red, orange and yellow
stimulate the ‘active emotions’ – anxiety, excitement
and aggression. – (3) __ the cooler blue, violet and
green colours promote passive feelings of calm and
relaxation.
To return to the example of the fast-food restaurant, red, in addition to making a
place seem warm and inviting, can stimulate the appetite. Yellow, (4)__ is initially
attractive, becomes irritating after a while. So walls are painted yellow to encourage
people to leave the restaurant quickly and make room (5) ____ the next customers.
Supermakets also make use of colour psychology. Red and yellow packaging attracts attention. Soft blue lighting,
however, helps customers to relax and they are therefore more inclined to spend money. And in sport some
football clubs have (6) __ known to paint their home dressing room in bold colours and the visitors’ one in pale
blue. In the same way, some prisons in Texas (7)__ their prisoners wear pink, not (8) __ because it humiliates
them, but also because pink is said to reduce aggression.
ANSWE
RS
How colours affect our emotions
Have you ever wondered (0) why fast-food
restaurants are so often decorated in red and yellow?
It’s all to do (1) with colour psychology. There is
scientific evidence that colour affects our moods
both consciously and subconsciously. Colours are
generally associated with two types of emotion.
Warm colours (2) such as red, orange and yellow
stimulate the ‘active emotions’ – anxiety, excitement
and aggression. – (3) whereas/while the cooler blue,
violet and green colours promote passive feelings of
calm and relaxation.
To return to the example of the fast-food restaurant, red, in addition to making a place
seem warm and inviting, can stimulate the appetite. Yellow, (4)which is initially
attractive, becomes irritating after a while. So walls are painted yellow to encourage
people to leave the restaurant quickly and make room (5) for the next customers.
Supermakets also make use of colour psychology. Red and yellow packaging attracts attention. Soft blue lighting,
however, helps customers to relax and they are therefore more inclined to spend money. And in sport some
football clubs have (6) been known to paint their home dressing room in bold colours and the visitors’ one in pale
blue. In the same way, some prisons in Texas (7)have/make their prisoners wear pink, not (8) only because it
humiliates them, but also because pink is said to reduce aggression.