Quiz Past Modals of Deduction

Past Modals of Deduction

IHPalermoLC — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:25:19 +0000

Past Modals of Deduction IHPalermoLC Wed, 06/17/2020 - 15:25

Your friend says the following statement to you:

"I thought I saw Katy yesterday at the library"

If you respond in one of the following ways, how certain are you that your friend saw Katy at the library?

a) “It might have been her, I know she likes going to that library”

90% sure it was her

It’s possible it was her

90% sure it wasn’t here

b) “It can’t have been her, she’s in America at the moment!”

90% sure it was her

It’s possible it was her

90% sure it wasn’t here

c) “It may have been her, she’s always in there”

90% sure it was her

It’s possible it was her

90% sure it wasn’t here

d) “It must have been her, that’s where she works!”

90% sure it was her

It’s possible it was her

90% sure it wasn’t here

e) “It could have been her, I know she often goes there during her lunch break”

90% sure it was her

It’s possible it was her

90% sure it wasn’t here

Answer these questions related to the above:

Some of the answers above relate to the present.

Correct

Incorrect

All of the answers above relate to the past.

Correct

Incorrect

When we say “can’t have been” or “must have been” we are 100% certain we are correct.

Correct

Incorrect

When we say “can’t have been” or “must have been” we are nearly 100% certain we are correct.

Correct

Incorrect

When we say “may have been”, “might have been” or “could have been” we are saying that it was possible.

Correct

Incorrect

There is a difference in meaning between say “may have been”, “might have been” and “could have been”.

Correct

Incorrect

Now you have understood the rules, you can practice with the questions below

She _____ seen me at the party last night, she looked right at me!

Can’t have

Must have

Could have

Giuseppe _____ gone to the beach, he hates being under the sun!

Can’t have

Must have

May have

I ____ written down the number wrong, I often do stupid things like that so it’s perfectly possible.

Can’t have

Must have

May have

I did tell you about the dinner tonight, you ____ listening!

Can’t have been

Must have been

May have been

Gaetano ____ been exhausted before the concert last night, as he’d worked for 12 hours straight beforehand!

Can’t have

Must have

May have

Yes, it ____ been better to change the formation during the match, but we will never know!

Can’t have

Must have

Might have

Crazy Craig ___ killed Terrible Terry, he hated him and he had blood on his shirt!

Can’t have

Must have

Might have

He ___ gone shopping, I remember he said yesterday he needed a new pair of shoes, but he also said he wanted to go skateboarding so I don’t know where he is.

Can’t have

Must have

Could have

They ___ been at the market, but I didn’t see them. It’s a very big market though.

Can’t have

Must have

Could have

It’s not possible, you ___ seen her – she was sitting next to you!

Can’t have

Must have

Could have

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Quiz Past Modals of Deduction