Past Modals Of Speculation And Deduction Exercises 〈99% Easy〉

Your coworker solved a very difficult problem in 2 minutes. ➜ She ______________

: You are 95-100% sure something happened (strong evidence). must have left already; his car is gone.” Might / May / Could have : You think it’s possible, but you aren't sure. might have forgotten her phone at home.” Can’t / Couldn’t have : You are sure something was impossible or did not happen. can't have seen John; he's in the hospital!” Should have : Used for expectations that weren't met or for criticism. should have told me you were coming!” Practice Exercises Exercise 1: Choose the Best Fit past modals of speculation and deduction exercises

Read the short mystery paragraph. Then write 3 sentences using different past modals (must have, might have, could have, can’t have) to explain what happened. Your coworker solved a very difficult problem in 2 minutes

When we speculate about the past, we are essentially playing the role of a detective. We see a present result (a wet ground, a sad face, a broken window) and we look backward in time to find the cause. Because we were not present when the event happened, we cannot state facts (e.g., "It rained"). Instead, we must make guesses based on evidence. might have forgotten her phone at home

Example: "I can't find my keys. I them in the car." Common Mistakes to Avoid