Speculation and deduction

MODAL VERBS: must / may / might / must / can't / should

As well as for obligation, we also use must + bare infinitive to say that we are
almost sure something is true about the present, and must have + past
participle to say that we are almost sure something was true or happened in
the past.
1.

Pol and Ann must be very well off. They've got a huge house.

2.

You must have seen him. He was standing right in front of you!

We use can't and can't / couldn't + perfect infinitive (NOT mustn't / mustn't
have ) to say that we are almost sure that something is not true in the present
or didn't happen / wasn't true in the past.
3.

That old actress can't be dancing at her age.

4.

They can't be playing very well they're losing 0-3.

5.
You can't / couldn't have spent very long on this essay because you've
only written 100 words!

We use may / might / could and may / might / could + perfect infinitive to say
that we think it is possible that something is true in the present or was true /
happened in the past.

Compare:
He might not have done it. (= Maybe he didn't do it.)
He couldn't have done it. (= It is impossible that he did it.)
6.

I haven't seen our boss today. He may / might / could be off sick.

7.

Do you think someone may / might / could have taken my keys?

8.

He may / might not have heard the message I left on his voicemail.

Use should + infinitive (or should have + participle) to describe a situation you
expect to happen (or would expect to have happened in the past).

Now compare the use of the infinitive and the continuous infinitive after these
modals.
He must work really hard. He never gets home before 9.00 p.m.
= deduction about a habitual action
There's a light on in his office. He must still be working.
= deduction about an action in progress at the moment of speaking.
9.

If I post the letter today, it should arrive on Friday.

10.

I posted the letter a week ago. It should have arrived by now.

SPECULATION: ADJECTIVES AND ADVERBS

Bound and sure are adjectives. We use be bound or be sure + infinitive to say
that you think something is certain to be true or to happen.
1.

He's bound / sure to be here in a minute. He left an hour ago.

2.

She's sure to know. She's an expert on the subject.

Likely / unlikely are also adjectives (not adverbs). We can use these two
structures: subject + be likely / unlikely + infinitive, or it is likely / unlikely +
that clause.

3.
I think she is likely to agree to our proposal. We've given her some very
good reasons.
4.

The doctors say that at his age he is unlikely to recover.

5.

I think it's very likely that the meeting will be over by 6.00.

6.

It's unlikely that the government will raise interest rates this year.

Definitely and probably are adverbs. They go before a main verb and after the
auxiliary (if there is one) in affirmative sentences and before the auxiliary verb
in negative sentences.

With be they go after the verb in affirmative sentences and before it in

negative sentences, e.g. He's probably British. The painting definitely isn't
genuine.

Be likely to and will probably are very similar in meaning, but be likely to is
more formal. Compare: The new coach is likely to be appointed today. The new
coach will probably be appointed today.
7.

She will definitely pass the exam. She's worked really hard.

8.

She definitely won't pass the exam. She hasn't done any work.

9.

He'll probably be here around 8.00. He usually leaves work at 7.30.

10.

He probably won't be here until 8.30. He's stuck in a traffic jam.

PRACTICE
Speculation and deduction
ACTIVITY 142: Complete the mini-dialogues using MUST, MIGHT, COULD, MAY,
CAN'T or SHOULD and the correct form of the verb in blue capitals. Then check
the correct answers.

1.

A: Jessica is looking pleased with herself.

B: Yes. She well in her job interview.

DO

2.

A: Where's Eve? She said to meet her just outside the tube station.

B: I suppose she eat the other entrance.

WAIT

3.

A: Harry left work about a quarter of an hour ago.

B: Yes, he here soon. It only takes 20 minutes.

BE

4.

A: How about this dress for your cousin?

B: I don't know. I've never seen her in a dress. She it.

NOT LIKE

5.

A: My brother is in his room revising.

B: Well, he . I can hear him talking on the phone!

STUDY

6.

A: Jason isn't answering his phone.

B: I'm not sure, but he it at home. He often does that.

LEAVE

7.

A: My secretary is off sick.

B: Well, she anything serious. I've just seen her playing tennis.
HAVE

8.

A: Tony's late for the party.

B: Yes. Do you think he about it?

FORGET
Speculation and deduction
ACTIVITY 143: Complete the second sentence so it means the same as the first
using the words in blue capitals. Then check the correct answers.

1.

I don't think Fernando will pass his driving test.

PROBABLY
Fernando

2.

I'm sure we'll win the match.

BOUND
We

3.

I'm sure you'll enjoy the film.

DEFINITELY
You

4.

I don't think it'll rain tonight.

LIKELY
It's

5.

They probably won't agree to our proposal.

UNLIKELY
They

6.

My father is likely to take early retirement.

PROBABLY
My father

7.

Your parents will almost certainly complain about it.

SURE
Your parents

8.

The manager is sure not to give us a pay rise.

DEFINITELY
The manager