Modal Verbs of Probability

MUST
Examples They must be in Spain by now.
She must have done well on the test.

Usage Use 'must' plus the verb when you are 100% (or almost 100%) sure that something is the case

He must be a homeless person

He must have had a bad day

He must have walked the whole day

He must be pretty old

He must be very tired

He must be a shame for his family

He must be poor

He must be sick He must be a blue collar worker He must have a family somewhere He must be in his forties

He must be drunk

MIGHT, MAY
Examples She might come this evening.

David may invite Jesica to the match. Jack might have gone to France.

Usage Use 'might' or 'may' to express an opinion that you think has a good possibility of being true.

He might be drunk and stoned

He might have suffered a loss

He might have walked the whole day

He may be ill His legs might hurt

He might have hurt his knee while working

He may be tired

He might be content

He might have a good wife, as his clothes are clean and he wears a wedding ring

He might have to wait for his boss to assign a new task to him He might have worked a lot up to now He might be a farmhand

COULD
Examples Jane could be at work. Peter could have arrived late.

Usage Use 'could' to express a possibilty which is one of many. This form is not as strong as 'might' or 'may'. It is just one of a number of possibilities.

He could be looking for a place to stay

He could have a

He could have run away from an asylum

headache

He could be resting

He could have remembered something painful

He could have had an important conversation on the phone

He could be doing several things at the same time

He could be preparing to redial a phone number whilest handing a paper to his secretary

He could have been shot from the back

He could have received a good email

He could be yawning

He could be shouting with joy

CANT
Examples You can't be serious! They can't have worked until late.

Usage Use 'can't' to express an opinion that you are 100% sure is NOT true.
Notice that the past form remains 'can't have done'

He cant be rich

He cant have had a good day He cant have had an easy life

He cant be a drug addict

He cant be well

This car cant be sold, its You cant drive this car, too rusty the police will fine you The owner of the car cant have kept it in a garage
This car cant be only five years old, its too rusty

This car cant be painted

This cant be Toms car, its too rusty

This car cant pass the technical inspection, its too rusty

In the present:
Subject Modal Base Form Objects
I You He, She We They must be might be could be can't be at work.

In the past:
Subject Modal Base Form Objects
I You He, She We They must have left might have left could have left can't have left early.

Lets try our hand...

MUST Where is David? He (be) BE Classes begin at 8.
CANT She (think)THINK It's crazy!

at school.

that it is a good idea.

I'm absolutley sure!. They (arrive) ARRIVED MUST HAVE yesterday, I saw their ticket.

 Courses (begin) MAY BEGIN MIGHT/ September.

on the fifth of

Are you joking! David CANT HAVE GONE (go) to Paris last week. He doesn't have enough money.
COULD They (live) LIVE

in New York, but I'm not sure.

MUST The concert (be) HAVE BEEN wonderful last night. Fiore is a great conductor.