MODAL OF DEDUCTION

We can use these modal verbs (also called modals of deduction, speculation or certainty) when we want to make a guess about something. We choose the verb depending on how sure we are.
 

1: Talking about the present:

must / might / could / may / can't

  • must + infinitive
  • might / might not + infinitive
  • could / could not + infinitive
  • may / may not + infinitive
  • can't + infinitive

For example:

I am waiting for Julie with another friend, David.
I ask: 'Where is Julie?'
David guesses:

  • She must be on the bus. (I'm fairly sure this is a good guess)
  • She might come soon. (maybe)
  • She could be lost. (maybe)
  • She may be in the wrong room. (maybe)
  • She can't be at home. (I'm fairly sure this isn't true)

Notice that the opposite of 'must' is 'can't in this case.

Will / won't

We use will and won't when we are very sure:

  • She'll be at work now.

Should / shouldn't

Should and shouldn't are used to make an assumption about what is probably true, if everything is as we expect:

  • They should be there by now.
  • It shouldn't take long to drive here.

This use of should isn't usually used for negative events. Instead, it's a better idea to use will:

  • The underground will be very busy now (not: 'should be').

Can

Can is used for something that is generally possible, something we know sometimes happens:

  • Prices can be high in London.

Can is not used to talk about specific possibilities:

  • He could be on the bus (not: 'can be').

 

2: Using modal verbs to talk about the past:

must / might / could / may / can't + have + past participle

(Click here to review how to make the past participle)

  • must have + past participle
  • might / might not have + past participle
  • could / couldn't have + past participle
  • may / may not have + past participle
  • can't have + past participle

For example:

You: Where was Julie last night?
David:

  • She must have forgotten about our date.
  • She might have worked late.
  • She could have taken the wrong bus.
  • She may have felt ill.
  • She can't have stayed at home.

Will / won't + have + past participle

Will and won't / will not + have + past participle are used for past certainty (compare with present use of 'will' above):

  • The parcel will have arrived before now.

Should + have + past participle

Should + have + past participle can be used to make an assumption about something that has probably happened, if everything is as we expect (compare with present use of 'should' above):

  • The train should have left by now

Could

We can use could + infinitive to talk about a general possibility in the past (compare with the use of 'can' above):

  • Prices could be high in the sixteenth century.

This is not used to talk about specific possibilites in the past (instead we usecould + have + past participle):

  • He could have been working late (not: 'could be'. As this is a specific possiblity, 'could be' is present tense)