Must have ... And can't have ...
We use must/can't + have + past participle for deductions about the past.
Those shoes you bought are very nice. They must have been expensive. (= I am sure that they were expensive.)
You can't have been at the swimming pool yesterday! The swimming pool was closed all day yesterday! (= It is impossible that you were at the swimming pool!)
We can use couldn't have... instead of can't have ...here.
You couldn't have been at the swimming pool yesterday! The swimming pool was closed all day yesterday!
We use can have ... and could have in questions about past possibility.
Where can they have gone?
Sally is very late. What could have happened
to her?
Could the bank have made a mistake?
Note].-Must is not used to express deductions with reference to the future. Instead of the modal verb the adverbs probably, evidently and the word combinations be likely (unlikely), be sure are used.
| He will probably feel lonely. Evidently the weather will change tomorrow. The weather is likely (unlikely) to change soon. He is sure to win a scholarship. | Он, вероятно, будет чувствовать себя одиноко. Очевидно, погода завтра изменится. Вероятно (навряд ли), погода скоро изменится. Он обязательно получит стипендию. |
Note 2: Must is not used to express deductions in negative sentences. There are several ways of expressing the negative meaning of probability in such sentences: by negative affixes, or negative pronouns or lexically.
| You must have misunder- | Ты, должно быть, не понял |
| stood me. | меня. |
| You must have been inat- | Ты, должно быть, был невни- |
| tentive. | мателен. |
| She must have failed to recog- | Должно быть, она тебя не |
| nize you. | узнала. |
| He must have had no chance | Вероятно, у него не было возмож- |
| to warn you. | ности предупредить тебя. |
| The letter must have never | Письмо, должно быть, не |
| reached them. | дошло до них. |
| The letter must have been | Должно быть, письмо оставили |
| left unanswered. | без ответа. |
| No one must have seen him | Должно быть, никто не видел |
| there. | его там. |
| Evidently he didn't notice | Очевидно, он не заметил меня. |
| me. | |
| Probably he didn't catch | Вероятно, он не успел на |
| the night train to town. | вечерний поезд в город. |
Note3: The Russian negative sentences of the type — неужели он не ... не может быть, чтобы он не ... can be translated into English in different ways:
| Неужели вы не видели его? Неужели тебе не нравится футбол? Не может быть, чтобы он не знал об этом. Неужели он не понял меня? | Haven't you seen him? Can you have failed to see him? Don't you like football? Can you dislike football? He can't be unaware of it. Didn't he understand me? He can't have misunderstood me. Can he have failed to understand me? | |
| FOCUS | ||
| Drawing definite conclusions | Drawing possible conclusions | |
| He must be a policeman. Look at his uniform. They can't be lost. They know the way here. | She might be Spanish. Her name's Maria. They could be in the park. They often play there. | |
Illustrative Situations
1. John: Where do you live?
Rita: In Elm Street — at number 6.
John: Really! That must be next door to my friend
Malcolm.
Rita: Oh, I don't think I know him. John: You must know him! He's a fanatical runner. You
must have seen him running round your area in
all weathers. Rita: Oh! You must mean the man with the red bicycle!
Yes, I've seen him but I didn't know he was a
friend of yours.
2. Gary must have been daydreaming while he was driving to work yesterday. He drove through a red light at the busiest intersection in town. Fortunately, he didn't hit anybody. Gary was pretty lucky. He could have caused a terrible accident.
3. Man: What on earth could that be?
Woman: It's that couple upstairs. They must be having
another argument. Man: An argument? They must be having a battle.
4. Nick: Jenny, look at this letter. It says 'For the young
Bells. Open with care.' The handwriting is so strange. I don't recognize it.
Jenny: Let me have a look. It's so untidy that I can hardly read it.
Nick: Well, it must be for us. It can't be for Mum and
Dad. Their names aren't on the envelope. Jenny: And it can't be a bill. I bet it's from Uncle Joe.
He's such a joker. Let's open it. Nick: It is from Uncle Joe. He's sent us tickets for a.
helicopter flight over London! He always has
such great ideas.
5. Only an hour ago the director of a large firm was found dead in his office with a bullet in his head. The police have established that he was murdered at 2.35. They are questioning his secretary now. 'I was in the canteen having lunch at that time,' she has just said. The office manager is listening. 'She can't be telling the truth,' he tells one of the detectives. 'The canteen was closed at 2.35.'
6. Someone ran into the tree in front of our house. I wonder who did it.
It could have been Sue; she has a car, and she was out driving last night.
• It couldn't have been Jane; she doesn't have a car, and she doesn't know how to drive.
It must have been Ann; she was out driving last night, and today her car has a big dent ( вмятина) in front.
Activities
/. From the given information, make your'best guess' by using must.
Example: Alice always gets the best grades in the class.
Why? Response She must study hard./She must be intelligent.
1. (...) is yawning. Why?
2. (...) is sneezing and coughing. Why?
3. (...) is wearing a wedding ring. Why?
4. (...) is going to get married in five minutes. His/her hands are shaking. Why?
5. (...) has already had two glasses of water, but now he/ she wants another. Why?
6. (...) is smiling. Why?
7. (...) is crying. Why?
8. There is a restaurant in town ( в центре города) that is always packed (full). Why?
9. Every night there is a long line of people waiting to get into (a particular movie). I wonder why.
10. Don't look at your watch. What time is it?
11. Make sentences with must do or must be doing for these situations.
1. A man's breath always smells of whisky. He is sitting in the office now.
2. You have just come into a room. Cigarette smoke is hanging over your young son's head. His hands are behind his back.
3. You hear a strange language behind you. Two Chinese are there and you hear the words 'Mao Tse Tung' several times.
4. You can hear a typewriter upstairs. You know a writer lives there.
5. In his library he has books in six different languages.
6. The only kinds of bottles in his dustbin are always empty champagne bottles.
7. A priest is walking down the road. There is a small book in his hands and his lips are moving.
8. You go to bed rather late every evening, but when you do there is always a light on in the man's house across the street.
9. You can see the man now. It is midnight and he is just turning that light off!
10. The beautiful woman in the airport lounge is holding a Pan Am ticket to Los Angeles.
11. Max is asleep but his lips are moving and you can hear a few words.
12. You mentioned the President's name. The man you were talking to called him by his first name.
13. The man in the bus is wearing blue overalls with the word 'Ford' on them.
14. The girl on the beach has her ear next to the radio.
15. Tom knows all about French politics and there are lots of French newspapers in his room.
III. Rewrite the second sentence in each pair below, using 'must've'. You may have to change the person, as in example a).
Examples: a) It rained during the whole holiday. We felt fed up.
b) I almost fell asleep during the film. It was very boring.
Answers: a) You must've felt fed up.
b) It must've been very boring.
1. My wife and I had a meal in the best restaurant in town. It cost a lot. 2. The computer at the office broke down yesterday. Everything went wrong. 3.1 worked overtime every evening last week. It made me feel very tired. 4. Look, there's a crowd outside the bank. There was a robbery. 5. I've phoned him twice but there's no reply. He's gone out. 6. Peter bought a new car last week. He was given a pay rise. 7. Susan failed her exam. I can't believe it. She misread a question. 8. Did you hear? Mike's wife's gone off to Australia. She was glad to get away from the cold weather.
IV. Martin and Simon have just come back to their house after a weekend. Martin notices various changes; Simon thinks these must be the result of actions by Peter, who shares the house with them.
A: The door's open!
B: Peter must have left it open.
1. My torch isn't here! (borrow)
2. The plates are all clean! (wash up)
3. What are all these books doing here? (leave)
4. The teapot is in pieces! (drop)
5. How shiny the furniture looks! (polish)
6. The steps are unusually clean! (sweep)
7. There are some sandwiches on the kitchen table! (make)
8. There are no biscuits left! (eat)
9. And there's no whisky left! (drink)
10. The car is in a terrible state! (drive into a wall)
11. The clock is going again! (wind)
12. The bath's overflowing! (leave the tap on)
V. Complete the dialogues. Use an appropriate form of must with the verbs in parentheses.
1. A: Paula fell asleep in class this morning. B: She (stay up) ... too late last night.
2. A: George had to give a speech in front of 500 people. B: Whew! That's a big audience. He (be) ... nervous. A: He was, but nobody could tell.
3. A: What time is it?
B: Well, we came at seven, and I'm sure we've been here for at least an hour. So it (be) ... around eight o'clock.
4. A: My favourite magazine doesn't come in the mail any mo-
re. I wonder why. B: Did your subscription run out? A: That's probably the problem. I (forget) ... to renew it.
5. A: Where's Dorothy? I've been looking all over for her. B: I saw her about ten minutes ago in the living room.
Have you looked there? A: Yes, I've looked everywhere. She (leave)... .
6. A: Listen. Do you hear a noise downstairs? B: No, I don't hear a thing.
A: You don't? Then something (be) ... wrong with your hearing.
7. A: You have a black eye! What happened? B: I walked into a door.
A: Ouch! That (hurt) .... B: It did.
8. A: Who is your teacher?
B: I think his name is Mr Rock, or something like that. A: Mr Rock? Oh, you (mean) ... Mr Stone.
9. A: I grew up in a small town. B: That (be) ... dull.
A: It wasn't at all. You can't imagine the fun we had.
10. A: Why are you here so early?
B: Sam told me that the party started at seven o'clock. A: No, it doesn't start until eight o'clock. You (misunderstand) ....
11. A: I have passed the exams successfully. B: You (work) ... hard.
A: Yes, and I have deserved a good rest.
VI. Translate from Russian into English.
1. У него дом в Лондоне и еще один дом в Париже, он, по всей вероятности, богат. 2. Я все время встречаю его в автобусе. Он, вероятно, живет где-то рядом. 3. Он, вероятно, принял снотворное вчера ночью. Он проснулся только к ленчу, 4. Какой взрыв? Я ничего не слышал. — Вы _ должны были слышать! Весь город слышал это. 5. Я ждал под часами! — Я тоже, но я не видел тебя! Очевидно, мы ждали под разными часами. 6. Сверху доносится сильный шум. Должно быть, это Том. — Почему обязательно Том? И другие люди пользуются той квартирой. 7. Ты ничего не ел с самого утра. Ты, наверное, проголодался. 8. Джон женился! — Ты, должно быть, шутишь! 9. Ты, должно быть, устал после дороги. 10. Я слышал , что у тебя экзамены на следующей неделе. Ты, должно быть, много занимаешься сейчас. 11. Телефон звонил, но я не слышал его. Я, вероятно, спал. 12. Я наделал много шуму, когда вернулся домой. Ты, наверное, слышал меня. 13. Я давно не вижу Джима. Он, скорее всего, уехал. 14. Когда я проснулся сегодня утром, горел свет. Я, вероятно, забыл его выключить. 15. Она все знала о наших планах. Она, должно быть, подслушала наш разговор. 16. Письмо, наверное, доставили утром. 17. Посмотрите, на столе что-то лежит. Он, должно быть, оставил вам записку. 18. Должно быть, ей сейчас около двадцати пяти лет. Она училась в школе вместе с моей сестрой. 19. Эта статья, вероятно, была напи-
сана пять лет назад. 20. Я не видел Джима, но знал, что он, вероятно, ждет меня где-то здесь. 21. Какой прекрасный телевизор! Должно быть, он дорого стоил. 22. Интересно, кто взял деньги. — Скорее всего, Том. Кроме него там никого не было. 23. Я подождал с полчаса, и когда я уже думал, что что-то, должно быть, случилось с Китти, она приехала на такси.
VII. Study how negation is expressed in the following sentences, translate them into Russian.
I. Nobodymust have noticed him leave. 2. He must have left the door unlockedon purpose. 3. He thought that he must have taken the wrongtrain, because the names of the stations they were passing seemed unfamiliar. 4. The news must have neverreached him. He never says a word about it. 5. He must have failed to see his mistake, for he didn't stop to correct it. 6. He must have refusedthe offer. 7. He seems to be a very quiet child. He must have given you notrouble at all. 8. They must have been unwillingto leave so early. 9. They treated our offer with suspicion. They must have misunderstoodour intentions. 10. Such a possibility must have neveroccurred to him. 11. He must have failedto prove his point.
12. They must have missedthe train. They had left too late.
13. He must have left the letter unanswered.14. He must be quite unawareof his clumsiness. 15. What a pity I could not say good-bye to them, but they must have had no chance to warn me about their departure.
VIII. Change the following sentences making them opposite in meaning. (See Exercise VII.)
1. Everybody must have noticed that he was not used to speaking in public. 2. He must have written to them of his arrival in due time. 3. She must have bolted the door forgetting that I was to come later. 4. He must have a good chance of winning, he is in good form. 5. The man must have understood me, for he nodded his head. 6. She must have been quite conscious of having made a mistake. 7. They
must have given us the correct information about the road. I can see all the landmarks they have spoken of. 8. The telegram must have certainly come in time. 9. She must have been very careful. She did not spill a drop of milk. 10. He must have done something about it. I see some changes in the design. 11. The dog must have recognized his master. It did not bark as we approached the house. 12. He must have been very experienced in sailing navigation. 13. He must have kept his promise. 14. They must have caught the train. 15. She must be very patient with children, they like her. 16. The student must have given the right answer. The teacher was pleased.
IX. Remembering that must in the meaning of probability is not used with reference to the future or in the negative form, find a suitable way of translating the following sentences into English.
A. 1. По-видимому, студенты не знали, что расписание изменилось. Их никто не предупредил. 2. Он удивился, когда узнал об этом. Очевидно, он ничего не слышал об этом раньше. 3. Должно быть, вы были несправедливы к нему. 4. Он, должно быть, не сумел уговорить ее поехать с нами. 5. У него, очевидно, пока просто не нашлось времени для вас. 6. Они, наверное, не встретили его на станции. 7. Он, должно быть, не узнал меня и поэтому не подошел ко мне. 8. Вы, наверно, и не пытались это сделать, иначе вы бы не говорили, что это легко. 9, Иностранец, очевидно, неправильно произнес название этого кушанья, и официант принес ему совсем другое. 10. Вы, должно быть, давно там не были. 11. Ей, должно быть, ничего об этом не сказали. 12. По всей вероятности, они не попали на поезд, так как вышли из дому слишком поздно. 13. Он, наверно, так и не догадался, почему мы смеялись. 14. Ты, наверно, положил ключ не на то место, и я не смог войти в дом. 15. Их, очевидно, неправильно информировали. Они должны были прийти сегодня. 16. Очевидно, у него не было возможности поговорить с ней раньше. 17. Не надо на него сердиться. Он, по всей вероятности, не хотел обидеть
вас. 18. Дома, наверное, нет никого сейчас. 19. Очевидно, она не осознает свою ошибку.
Б. 1. Вероятно, дождя завтра не будет. 2. Очевидно, меня пошлют в командировку. 3. Он наверняка сдаст экзамен. 4. Вероятно, он не будет ждать ее приезда. 5. Он вряд ли закончит работу к пятнице. 6. Она обязательно поможет тебе. 7. Вероятно, директор не примет ее завтра. 8. Вряд ли она возьмет ребенка с собой. 9. Очевидно, она не придет. 10. Очевидно, сегодня будет дождь. 11. Вряд ли наша команда выиграет матч. 12. Навряд ли я увижусь с Мэри. Меня, вероятно, не будет в Минске в это время. 13. Могу я поговорить с вами завтра утром? — Я, наверное, буду занят утром. 14. Он, вероятно, попытается достать билеты на игру за кубок.
X. Give possible reasons for Speaker B's conclusions.
1. A: Someone is knocking at the door. It might be Mary. B: It couldn't be Mary. (Reason? Mary is in Moscow./Mary
went to a movie tonight.)
2. A: Someone left this wool hat here. I think it belongs to
Alex. B: It couldn't belong to him. (Reason?)
3. A: Someone told me that Fred is in Norway.
B: That can't be right. He couldn't be in Norway. (Reason?)
4. A: Look at that big bird. Is it an eagle? B: It couldn't be an eagle. (Reason?)
5. A: Someone told me that Jane quit school.
B: You're kidding! That can't be true. (Reason?)
XI. Answer the questions in A using1 must or can't, give a reason from B.
Example 1. They can't be Greek. They're speaking Italian.
A B
1. Are they Greek? It's very cold in here.
| 2. Is he ill? 3. Is the heating on? 4. Are they asleep? 5. Is she happy? 6. Is he a doctor? 7. Is Jane married? | He's too young. She's just passed her driving test. They're speaking Italian. Their bedroom lights are off. She's only fifteen. He's got a high temperature. |
XII. Complete the statements with must or can't.
A: This is Mr and Mrs Arnold's house. They ... be far away
because their car is here. B: Yes, they ... be somewhere near — perhaps they're in the
house. It's a very big house — they ... be poor. A: And look at that expensive car! It ... be a new one. B: They ... have a child. Look, there's a child's bike. A: It's a small one, so the child ... be very old. B: And there's another bike there, too. It... be Mr Arnold's.
It ... be Mrs Arnold's because it's a man's bike,
XIII. Make sentences with can't be doing.
1. Someone says, 'Richard's sitting in the park.' You saw him in the office a second ago.
2. You hear piano music and see Jane at the piano. You know she has never played before.
3. Your uncle has something that looks like a cigarette in his mouth. He is the head of the Anti-Tobacco League.
4. You understand Russian but you do not understand the two foreigners at the next table.
5. The six-month-old child has a book open in front of it.
6. 'Bill's playing tennis,' someone says. You know Bill has a broken leg.
XIV. Yesterday someone finished the wine/broke a wineglass/ borrowed Mary's radio etc. Mary thinks it was Tom who did these things, but you know that Tom was out all day.
A: I wonder who broke the glass. I expect it was Tom. B: Tom couldn't have broken it. He wasn't here yesterday.
/ wonder who ...I expect it was Tom.
1. spoke to her
2. paid the milkman
3. brought the flowers
4. fixed the television set
5. tuned my guitar
6. made all the mess
7. moved the piano
8. spilt the wine
9. opened my letters
10. borrowed my umbrella
11. answered the phone
12. ate the cold meat
13. overheard us
14. planted the rose bushes
XV. Complete the sentences using must have or can't have
and the verb in brackets,
1. She didn't answer the door bell even though I rang several times. She ... (be) asleep. 2. I ... (run out of) petrol. I only filled up the tank this morning. 3. I'm so sorry I'm late. You ... (wonder) what had happened. 4. Cathy's got a new BMW! She ... (win) a lottery. 5. I ... (lose) my glasses. They were here a minute ago. 6. The flowers are beautiful! They ... (cost) you a fortune. 7. Alan ... (get lost). I gave him the address and drew a map.
XVI. Respond to the following statements.
A: Steve's late. He's probably missed the bus. B: Yes, he must have missed the bus.
A: He didn't phone, so I'm sure he has decided not to
come. B: No, he can't have decided not to come.
1. Steve's late. He's probably missed the bus.
2. He didn't phone, so I'm sure he has decided not to come.
3. Jane didn't come. She's probably seen the play already.
4. I can't find the tickets. I'm sure we didn't leave them at home.
5. They aren't in my pocket. I've probably left them in the car.
6. It's after 8 o'clock. The play's probably started by now.
7. There's another bus. Surely Steve hasn't missed two buses.
8. It's Wednesday today, isn't it? Surely he didn't think we were going tomorrow.
XVII. Draw definite conclusions.
A: I couldn't see the little boy anywhere, (he/hide) B: He must have been hiding.
A: She suddenly forgot what she was saying, (she/
concentrate) B: She can't have been concentrating.
1. I couldn't see the little boy anywhere (he/hide)
2. She suddenly forgot what she was saying, (she/concentrate)
3. Sally wasn't home when I called, (she/fetch the children)
4. He came last in the race, (he/try)
5. The man was stopped in his car by the police, (he/drink and drive)
6. I didn't hear the announcement at all. (you/ doze)
7. Don't you remember I said we'd be late? (I/listen)
8. Her eyes were red and puffy, (she/cry)
9. She got burnt on the first day on the beach, (she/wear any suntan lotion).
10. The man couldn't fix the tap in the end. (he/use the right tools)
11. He has achieved brilliant results, (he/work hard)
XVIII. Express doubt about the statements below.
Example — She likes judo.
— Could (Can) she like judo?
1. He is a liar. 2. She is still waiting for you. 3. He has won the race. 4. He was promoted. 5. Jane is in love with Peter. 6. She has done it. 7. They are still playing football. 8. She speaks five languages. 9. She enjoys football. 10. Dobson scored two goals. 11. He was studying the whole night. 12. He was waiting for you all this time. 13. She has enjoyed the performance. 14. It is true. 15. She has passed the exam.
16. Jane has accepted his proposal. 16. She has been walking in the park the whole night.
XIX. Translate from Russian into English.
1. Неужели это правда? 2. He может быть, чтобы это была правда. 3. Неужели они проиграли матч? 4. Не может быть, чтобы они проиграли матч. 5. Неужели он верит этому? 6. Не может быть, чтобы она вам об этом рассказала. 7. Не может быть, чтобы она вам об этом не рассказывала. 8. Не мог он этого сказать. 9. Не может быть, чтобы они уже сделали эту работу. Они приступили к ней только вчера. 10. Неужели они опять поссорились? 11. Не мог он заблудиться. Он здесь был несколько раз. 12. Неужели он пользовался машиной в мое отсутствие? 13. Неужели ей не нравится балет? 14. Неужели они ждали нас все это время? 15. Не может быть, чтобы они были близкими друзьями. 16. Не может быть, чтобы он бросил музыку.
17. Не может быть, чтобы она ошиблась. 18. Неужели сестры так похожи? 19. Невероятно, чтобы он не сдал экзамен. 20. Ты не мог проголодаться. Мы основательно пообедали два часа назад. 21. Не может быть, чтобы они уже приехали. Поезд должен прибыть в 7 часов. 22. Неужели он не пригласил вас на свадьбу? 23. Не может быть, чтобы она сделала такую глупость. 24. Не мог он этого не заметить. 25. Не может быть, чтобы вас послали ко мне. Я не имею к этому никакого отношения. 26. Неужели он видел их? 27. Где он мог их видеть? 28. Не может быть, чтобы они ждали нас. 29. Неужели они ждут нас? 30. Кого же они могут ждать? 31. Неужели ты сам это написал? 32. Он не мог не осознавать опасности. 33. Неужели он не позвонил тебе вчера? Он сказал, что собирается сделать
это. 34. Кэт запаздывает. Что с ней могло случиться? 35. Детей нет дома. Куда они могли уйти?
XX. Which of the two completions is the speaker most likely to say? Choose the best completion.
1. 'Do you know where Mary is?'
'She ... be at home. She was going either there or to Barbara's after work.'
A. must B. could
2. 'Look at all the children waiting for the bus. What time is it?'
'It ... be after 3.00. That's when school is out.' A. must B. might
3. 'I heard that Jose has received a scholarship and will be able to attend the university in the fall.' 'Wonderful! He ... very happy to have the matter finally settled.'
A. must B. may
4. 'Excuse me. Could you tell me which bus I should take to get to City Hall?'
'Bus number 63 ... go there. But maybe you'd better ask the driver.'
A. must B. might
5. 'George says that we're going to have a very high inflation
next year.'
'He ... be right. I think his view is as good as anybody's.
I've heard strong opinion on all sides of that issue.'
A. must B. could
6. 'Do you suppose Carl is sick?'
'He ... be. Nothing else would have kept him from coming to this meeting.'
A. must B. may
7. 'Have you heard anything from Ed? Is he still in Africa?' 'He ... be, or he ... already be on his way home. I'm just not sure.'
A. must/must B. could/could
8. 'It that a famous person over there in the middle of that crowd?'
'It ... be. Everyone's trying to get her autograph.' A. must B. might
9. 'Isn't Peter Reeves a banker?'
'Yes. Why don't you talk to him? He ... be able to help you with your loan.'
A. must B. may
10. 'Isn't Margaret's daughter over sixteen?'
'She ... be. I saw her driving a car, and you have to be at least sixteen to get a driver's licence.'
A. must B. might
11. 'Is that Bob's brother standing with him in the cafeteria line?'
'It ... be I suppose. He does look a little like him.' A. must B. could
12. 'Do you think the grocery store is still open?'
'It ... be. I can't ever remember what their hours are.' A. must B. could
13. 'Is Jeff a good student?'
'He ... be. Although he seems to study very little, I heard he was offered a scholarship for next year.' A. must B. could
14. 'Have you seen the new movie playing at the Odeon?' 'No, but it ... be sad. Many people leaving the theatre seem to have been crying.'
A. must B. might
15. 'The speedometer on my car is broken.'
'Do you think you're driving over the speed limit?' 'I don't know. I ... be.'
A. must B. might
16. Jenny and Tom have had a party. It has just finished.
Jenny: There's a taxi outside. Whose is it? Tom: I'm not sure. I think it ... be John's. He was telephoning for one earlier.
a) will b) might c) can
Jenny: Is there anyone else still here? Tom: No. Only John. Jenny: Well, then it ... be his.
a) must b) won't c) mustn't
John, I think your taxi has arrived.
John: I'm coming. Thanks for the party. It was great. Tom: That's O.K. Oh, wait a moment. Do you know
whose jacket this is? John: I think Martin was wearing something like that.
It ... be his.
a) can't b) will c) could
(John leaves)
Jenny: Goodness. I'm tired. What's the time?
Tom: It's two fifteen.
Jenny: It ... be that late! When I looked at my watch
a few moments ago, it was only one o'clock.
a) can't b) won't c) mustn't
Tom: Well, I'm sorry but that's the time. Jenny: I forgot to tell you. The builders ... here at eight tomorrow morning.
a) come b) are c) will be
Tom: That's too bad because I ... be asleep, a) can b) '11 c) must
XXI. Complete the sentences using might have,must have or can't have, and the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1.1 can't find my keys anywhere. I think I... (lose) them. 2. You shouldn't have driven when it was so foggy. You ... (have) an accident. 3. You never know. They ... (take) the wrong bus. 4. She ... (telephone) because I was in all day. 5. I'm glad you didn't come to see me yesterday. You ... (catch) my cold. 6. I ... (lose) my passport. It was here on the table just a few minutes ago.
XXII. Respond to the following statements.
A: He didn't answer the doorbell. Do you think he was
sleeping?
B: Yes, he may have been sleeping. A: It was Sunday, so I don't think he was working. B: No, he couldn't have been working.
1. He didn't answer the doorbell. Do you think he was sleeping?
2. It was Sunday, so I don't think he was working.
3. His car was outside. Perhaps he was having a bath.
4. Graham was out last night. Do you think he was meeting Jack?
5. He didn't take his racket, so I don't think he was playing squash.
6. Mary looked surprised to see Peter. I don't think she was expecting him.
7. I thought Peter was driving a Rolls Royce. Do you think I was dreaming?
8. Charles looked tired this evening. Perhaps he's been working too hard.
XXIII. Complete the dialogue with the correct form (simple or continuous) of the modals in the past. Role-play the conversation.
Peter: Hi, Louise! I've been trying to get in touch with you all week.
Louise: Really?
Peter: Yes, first I tried to phone you on Monday evening.
I suppose it was about 7.30.
Louise: Oh, I ... (must/already/leave) for the cinema. Peter: Then on Tuesday evening I phoned at about six
o'clock.
Louise: I ... (might/work late). I usually do on a Tuesday. Peter: Then I tried again on Wednesday, at about ten
o'clock in the evening. Louise: Really? I suppose I... (might/already/go to bed). I
had an early night, I think, on Wednesday. Peter: Then I tried on Thursday evening around eight
o'clock. Louise: I ... (must/shop). It's late night shopping on
Thursday. Peter: Then last night I tried several times but still no
luck!
Louise: I think I ... (might/have) a shower. Peter: What! For four hours! You ... (can't/be) in the
shower all evening! I get the feeling you're trying
to avoid me, Louise.
XXIV. Rephrase the following sentences, using must, can't, or might.
A. 1. I'm sure Harry's at least sixty. 2. I'm sure he hasn't retired yet. He still leaves the house every morning. 3. I'm sure he isn't very well off. His house is in a terrible mess. 4. Perhaps he spent all his money when he was younger. 5. I'm sure he does a lot of gardening. His garden looks beautiful. 6. I'm sure he's read a lot of books about gardening. He's certainly an expert. 7. I'm sure he's working in his garden now. I can hear someone digging. 8. Now I can hear voices. Perhaps he's talking to Miss Appleby. 9. No, I'm sure it isn't Miss Appleby. It's two men's voices. 10. They're shouting. Perhaps they are having an argument. 11. They're talking about money. Perhaps Harry owes the other man some money. 12. Now I can't hear anything. I'm sure they've gone inside. 13. My
God! A gun shot! I'm sure Harry has killed him! 14. No, there's Harry outside, so it wasn't Harry who was shot.
15. There's a siren. I'm sure this is the police arriving.
16. Look at all those lights and cameras. Ah! Now I understand. They are making a film!
B. 1. I'm sure John's been held up in a traffic jam.
2. He said he did the journey in three hours! That's impossible.
3. Perhaps Ben has decided to have an early night.
4. I'm sure the train left early.
5. That wasn't an elephant, surely. It was too small.
6. It's highly likely you dropped the envelope as you were running for the bus.
7. There's a chance that one of our employees has double-booked your ticket.
8. I'm sure they decided to take the train after all.
9. Maybe they missed the turning.
10. The boy was evidently reading something funny. He was smiling all the time.
11. The boy is probably reading something funny. He is smiling all the time.
12. It is possible that they left it in the car.
13. I'm certain that he has heard the gong.
14. It is impossible that he should have refused your request.
15. I don't believe that he has done the work carelessly.
16. Is it possible that this old man is her brother?
17. My students are certainly at a lecture now.
18. Is it possible that they have already left?
19. Perhaps they are having a party.
XXV. A detective is investigating a burglary at the home of Mr and Mrs Smith. Put in the correct modal verbs of deduction.
'I wonder how the thief got in. He ... used a ladder or he ... had a key.
Ah! What's this? Broken glass by the kitchen door, and the
door has been unlocked. He ... broken the window, put his
hand inside, and turned the key. That ... made a noise. I
wonder if the neighbours heard anything?
(He goes next door to talk to the neighbours, and knocks on
their door.)
There's no reply. I suppose they ... be on holiday, or they ...
watching television.
(He listens at the letter-box.)
I can hear voices. Someone ... in. Rather odd.
(He goes back to the Smiths' house.)
Now, I wonder what was stolen. I don't think the Smith
family is terribly well off, so the thief ... found a lot to
steal. It was clever of him to come in just after Mrs Smith
went shopping. He ... known she would be out.
What was that noise? It came from upstairs. The burglar ...
not... left the house yet! He ... hiding upstairs! I'd better go
and see.'
XXVI. Work in pairs. Respond to the following situations using the word or words in brackets and the perfect infinitive (have + past participle).
A: I can't find my ticket, (must, drop) B: You must have dropped it.
1. John didn't come to school yesterday, (must, ill)
2. Look at my new gold watch! (can't, buy yourself )
3. Why is Isabel late for class? (might, oversleep)
4. I can't find my homework, (must, forget)
5. The teacher's checking Maria's work, (can't, finish already)
6. Did you know that Charles got top marks in the exam? (must, cheat)
7. Where's my umbrella? (could, leave it on the train)
XXVII. Respond first with may have/might have/could have. Then use must have after you get more information.
Example Jack was absent yesterday afternoon. Where was he?
Possible response: I don't know. He may have been at home.
He might have gone to a movie. He could have
decided to go to the zoo because the weather
was so nice. Follow-up. What if you overhear him say, 'My sister's
plane was late yesterday afternoon. I had to
wait almost three hours.'
Now what do you think? Expected response. He must have been at the airport to meet
his sister's plane.
1. Jack didn't stay home last night. Where did he go?
— What if you overhear him say, 'I usually go there to study in the evening because it's quiet, and if I need to use any reference books, they're right there.'
2. How did Jack get to school today?
— What if you see him pull some car keys out of his pocket?
3. Jack took a vacation in a warm sunny place. Where do you suppose he went?
— What if you overhear him say, 'Honolulu is a nice city.'
4. Jack visited a person in this class yesterday. Do you know who he visited?
— What if I say this person (supply a certain distinguishing characteristic)!
5. Jack walked into class this morning with a broken arm. What happened?
— Then you overhear him say, 'After this I'm going to watch where I'm going when I'm riding my bicycle.'
XXVIII. Roleplay
Students A and В are waiting to meet an English-speaking friend outside a cinema. The film is about to start and their friend has not yet arrived. They know that their friend:
— does not know his/her way round the town very well.
— is going to come to the cinema straight from work.
— has recently been ill.
— is going to drive to the cinema and parking is difficult.
They also know that the same film is showing at another cinema in town.
In pairs, draw some conclusions about why the friend has not yet arrived and decide what to do. For drawing definite conclusions use must or can't; for drawing possible conclusions use could or might, may.
A: I wonder where (Sabina) is.
B: She might be lost. She doesn't know her way round the
town very well. A: No, she can't be lost. But she might be ...
XXIX. Emma and Sadie are students. They've both got exams tomorrow. Complete their conversation using a modal verb + be + the-ing form of each verb in brackets. Use the modal verbs ought to, might, must and would.
Emma: Hello, Sadie. Aren't you doing any work? You (revise)
for the exam.
Sadie: I (read) my notes if I had them, but I've lost them. Emma: Good Lord! How awful! Do you want to look at mine? Sadie: No, thanks. It's okay. Don' t worry, Emma. Exams
aren't important. Emma: Not important! You (joke)! I (look) everywhere if my
notes were lost.
Sadie: Well, I'll probably find them before tomorrow. Emma: Have you seen Helen? She's got a book of mine. Sadie: She was in here not long ago. Perhaps she's outside.
She (sit) in the garden. Emma: I'll go and have a look. Then I (go). I have to get to
the library before it closes. Sadie: What are you doing tonight, Emma? Emma: Revising, of course. Aren't you? Sadie: I (play) tennis with Rebecca. If the weather stays
fine, that is. It'll be too late for revision tonight.
A. Say what you might be doing at the moment if today was a different day of the week. Find out what the other members of the class might be doing if it was a Saturday or a Sunday.
XXX. Supply must be, can't be, or mustn't be.
1. The meeting is at 10 o'clock sharp and you ... late. 2. You ... at the station ten minutes before the departure of the train. 3. The children ... tired already! We've only been walking for ten minutes! 4. The children ... thirsty. They haven't had a drink for hours. 5. Did you hear that? It ... someone walking about in our garden. 6. I don't recognize the handwriting on this envelope. It... from anyone we know. 7. Your handwriting ... clear, otherwise no one will be able to read it. 8. You ... a nuisance when you're a guest in someone's house. 9. Don't panic! We ... late for the train. It doesn't leave till 10.05. 10. We ... late for the train or we'll miss our connection.
XXXI. Supply must have been, can't/couldn't have been, have to/had to (be), didn't have to (be).
1. He knows a lot about flying planes. He ... a pilot when he was young. 2. Vera ... at the supermarket this morning. I didn't see her there. 3. John ... at the bank till 10, so he only arrived here five minutes ago. 4. When ... she ... at the hospital? — Early this morning. 5. We had enough foreign currency left at the end of the holiday, so I ... buy any more. 6. Monica knew exactly what to do. I ... tell her twice. 7. There are so many nice things for tea, I think you ... expecting us. 8. There ... an accident on South Street because the road is closed off. 9. You ... waiting long. After all, I'm only five minutes late. 10. When I was a boy we ... sitting at our desks working before the boss got in. 11. I left a message on your answer phone last night. You ... out. 12. The fire alarm went and we ... out of the building in two minutes.
XXXII. Put in must be/must have been, can't be/can't have been, had to be or didn't have to be.
Tracy Evans ... at work till ten, so she ignored her alarm clock. But she woke up with a start when she heard a strange sound coming from her wardrobe! What was it? It... a mouse, Tracy thought. No, it ... . She knew there were no mice in her room. I ... careful, Tracy said to herself as she opened the wardrobe. There, in front of her, was the lovely pair of wedge-shaped sandals she had bought the day before. Then she heard the sound again! 'It ... coming from my sandals!' she cried. She picked them up and, sure enough, one of them was 'talking'! Tracy ... at work at ten, but she still had enough time to visit Mr Lucas, her shoemaker. He removed the wooden heel and they were both amazed to see a white larva eating the wood. Mr Pope, of the Natural History Museum, solved the mystery. 'These shoes ... (import) from Brazil. An insect... (lay) its eggs in the tree from which the shoes were made,' he explained.
XXXIII. Fill the spaces in the following sentences by using must, can't and needn't + perfect infinitive of the verbs in brackets.
1. Did you hear me come in last night? — No, I ... (be) asleep. 2. I wonder who broke the wineglass; it ... (be) the cat for she was out all day. 3. You ... (help) him. (You helped him but he didn't need help.) 4. I had my umbrella when I went out but I haven't got it now. — You ... (leave) it on the bus. 5. He ... (escape) by this window because it is barred. 6. I ... (give) £ 10 . £ 5 would have been enough. 7. I saw a rattlesnake near the river yesterday. — You ... (see) a rattlesnake. There aren't any rattlesnakes in this country. 8. He is back already. — He ... (start) very early. 9. I bought two bottles of milk. — You ... (buy) milk; we have heaps in the house. 10. I phoned you at nine this morning but got no answer. — I'm sorry. I ... (be) in the garden. 11. I left my bicycle here and now it's gone. — Someone ... (borrow) it. 12. When she woke up her watch had vanished. — Someone ... (steal) it while she slept. 13. I've opened another bottle. — You ... (do) that. We've only just started this one. 14. Perhaps he swam across. — No, he ... (do) that; he can't swim. 15. Do
you remember reading about it in the newspapers? — No, I ... (be) abroad at the time. 16. He ... (walk) from here to London in two hours. It isn't possible. 17. We went to a restaurant and had a very good dinner for £ 3. — You ... (have) a very good dinner if you only paid £ 3. 18.1 have just watered the roses. — You ... (water) them. Look, it's raining now! 19. That carpet was made entirely by hand. — It ... (take) a long time. 20. The door was open. — It... (be) open. I had locked it myself and the key was in my pocket. 21. He said he watered the plants every day. — He ... (water) them. If he had they wouldn't have died. 22. We've sent for a doctor. — You ... (send) for him. I am perfectly well. 23. I've made two copies. — You ... (make) two. One would have been enough. 24. I had to get down the mountain in a thick fog. — That... (be) difficult. 25.1 saw Ann in the library yesterday. — You ... (see) her; she is still abroad. 26. You ... (lend) him your map. He has one of his own. 27. He was found unconscious at the foot of the cliff. He ... (fall) 200 metres. 28. Jane took Spot for a walk and he disappeared. He ... (steal). 29. Lucy looks upset. She ... (give) a bad mark. 30. I found this book on my desk when I came to class. It ... (leave) by one of the students in the earlier class.
XXXIV. Translate from Russian into English.
1. Вероятно, они разговаривают по-немецки, но я почти ничего не понимаю. 2. Вероятно, у нее ушло много времени на то, чтобы добраться сюда. 3. Вряд ли он будет возражать против нашего предложения. 4. Матч, очевидно, не состоится. 5. Несчастный случай произошел, по всей вероятности, из-за его невнимательности. 6. Должно быть, он не заметил, как она вышла из зала. 7. Мы едем, вероятно, около часа, а лагеря все еще не видно. 8. Он сказал, что я, должно быть, знаю ее. Я встречался с ней на конференциях. 9. Ей, должно быть, не прислали пригласительный билет, поэтому она не пришла. 10. Его мать опять в больнице. Она, должно быть, серьезно больна. 11. Он, должно быть, ждет нас в институте. 12. Он, по всей вероятности, забыл, что обещал прийти. 13. Должно быть, он не
хочет вмешиваться. 14. Он спит, вероятно, уже около трех часов. 15. Посылку, вероятно, пошлют не позже 5 июля. 16. Ты, наверное, никогда не надевала это платье. Оно совсем новое. 17. Должно быть, они поссорились. Я его не вижу у нас последнее время. 18. Где Ник? — Вероятно, он пошел осматривать достопримечательности города. 19. Она, должно быть, гостит у своих друзей. Она писала, что собирается провести свой отпуск у них. 20. Где письмо? — Вероятно, его уже отослали. 21. Он, должно быть, не узнал ее. Она так изменилась. 22. Товары, должно быть, были упакованы очень небрежно. 23. Им, вероятно, сообщили об этом несколько дней тому назад. 24. Она, должно быть, была очень рада встретиться с вами. 25. Я нигде не вижу документы. По-видимому, он унес их с собой. 26. По-видимому, это не было сделано вовремя. 27. В доме тихо. Дети, очевидно, в школе. 28. У нее самый красивый сад в деревне. Она, очевидно, им гордится. 29. Не может быть, чтобы она вышла за него замуж. Одно время он ей не нравился. 30. Неужели она ходила на матч? Я думал, она не любит футбол. 31. Неужели ты все это время спал? Сейчас уже три часа. 32. Не может быть, чтобы он ушел без разрешения. Это на него не похоже. 33. Не может быть, чтобы она это сказала. Она всегда так тактична. 34. Он, вероятно, уже ушел. — Не может быть, чтобы он ушел, не повидав меня! 35. Неужели он уже получил мое письмо? 36. Неужели он не получил мое письмо? 37. Не может быть, чтобы они сейчас работали в саду. Идет сильный дождь. 38. Нет, я не верю этому, не могла она меня обмануть. 39. Не может быть, чтобы друзья не помогли тебе. 40. Неужели он встречал ее раньше? 41. Неужели ты не интересуешься политикой? 42. Не может быть, чтобы он не сдержал своего обещания. 43. Не может быть, чтобы они нас заметили. Мы были довольно далеко от них. 44. Не может быть, чтобы они нас не заметили. Мы были совсем близко. 45. Вероятно, ему не сообщили, что собрание перенесено. 46. Цифры, должно быть, не были проверены. 47. Он, возможно, приедет завтра, так как он, должно быть, получил нашу телеграмму. 48. Эта книга, может быть, показалась
ему скучной, но он, должно быть, прочел ее очень внимательно, так как он помнит все подробности. 49. Он сказал, что он, возможно, вернется в мае. 50. Если бы все меры были приняты, этого могло бы не произойти. 51. Неужели он сказал это? Он, должно быть, был очень сердит на вас. 52. Мои слова, вероятно, не убедили его. Он продолжал спорить. 53. Незачем вам было ходить туда. Они могли бы сами прийти. 54. Неужели вы им поверили? Они, скорее всего, пошутили над вами. 55. Я не могу понять, почему Энн не пришла на собрание. Не может быть, чтобы она забыла о нем, она, наверное, заболела. 56. Не может быть, чтобы она прочла эту книгу за два дня; она, возможно, только просмотрела ее. 57. Не может быть, чтобы я потеряла билет, я могла положить его в сумку. 58. Он не смог получить книгу, потому что библиотека была закрыта. 59. Не может быть, чтобы он получил книгу, ведь библиотека была закрыта. 60. Где ключ? — Не знаю. Ольга могла взять его с собой по ошибке. — Не может быть, чтобы она его взяла. У нее ничего не было в руках, когда она уходила. 61. Он, возможно, не был там вчера. 62. Возможно ли, чтобы он был там вчера? 63. Не может быть, чтобы он был там вчера. 64. Неужели он не смог доказать свою точку зрения? 65. Я не мог не думать об этом.
XXXV. Study and practise.
1. My aunt is an actress. She must be at least thirty-five years old. In spite of this, she often appears on the stage as a young girl. Jennifer will have to take part in a new play soon. This time, she will be a girl of seventeen. In the play, she must appear in a bright red dress and long black stockings. Last year in another play, she had to wear short socks and a bright, orange-coloured dress. If anyone ever asks her how old she is, she always answers, 'My dear, it must be terrible to be grown up!'
2. Kate: Can you recognize that woman, Millie? Millie: I think I can, Kate.
It must be Karen Marsh, the actress.
Kate: I thought so.
Who's that beside her? Millie: That must be Conrad Reeves. Kate: Conrad Reeves, the actor?
It can't be.
Let me have another look.
I think you're right!
Isn't he her third husband? Millie: No. He must be her fourth or fifth. Kate: Doesn't Karen Marsh look old! Millie: She does, doesn't she!
I read she's twenty-nine, but she must be at least
forty.
Kate: I'm sure she is. Millie: She was a famous actress when I was still a
schoolgirl.
Kate: That was a long time ago, wasn't it? Millie: Not that long ago!
I'm not more than twenty-nine myself.
Sybil: Sidney! Sidney! Wake up!
3 Sidney: Eh! What? What's the matter? It can't be eight
o'clock already! Sybil: No, it's half past one. It's those people next door
again. Listen!
Sidney: Oh, yes. They must be having another party. Sybil: Listen to that! They must be waking up the whole
street. And they've got three young children. They
can't be sleeping through that noise. It's disgusting!
Somebody should call the police! Sidney, wake up! Sidney: Eh? I wasn't asleep, dear. They're all laughing.
They must be having a good time! They never
invite us, do they? Sybil: Sidney!
Sidney: Yes, dear. What is it now? Sybil: Listen! They must be leaving. Sidney: Thank goodness for that! Maybe we'll get some
sleep.
Sybil: I hope so. It's nearly three o'clock. Goodnight,
dear.
Sidney: Oh, hell! They're having a row now. Sybil: I'm not surprised. They always have rows after
parties. Sybil: Oh! They must be throwing the pots and pans
again. Sidney: No, I think that was a plate, dear, or maybe the
television. They'll be sorry in the morning. Sybil: Sidney! Wake up! Sidney: Eh! Oh, what's that?
Sybil: He can't be hammering at this time of night. Sidney: What time is it? Sybil: Four o'clock. What can they be doing at four
o'clock in the morning?
Sidney: I can't hear any voices. Go back to sleep, Sybil, Sybil: Sidney! Listen. There's someone in the garden next
door.
Sidney: Eh? It must be the milkman. Sybil: No, it can't be. It's too early. It's only quarter to
five. Who could it be? You'd better have a look. Sidney: All right. Ooh! It's Mr Sykes, and he's carrying a
spade.
Sybil: Oh, no! You don't think he's killed her, do you? Sidney: Well, we haven't heard her voice for a while. No,
she's probably sleeping.
Sybil: But what can he be doing at this time of night? Sydney: If he has killed her, he might be burying the
body!
Sybil: What! You don't think so, do you? Sidney: Well, he can't be planting potatoes, can he? I
suppose you want me to phone the police? Sybil: No. Ask him what he's doing first! Sidney: Hello, there, Mr Sykes. You're up early this
morning. Mr Sykes: I haven't been to bed yet. We had a party last
night. I hope we didn't keep you awake. Sidney: Oh, no. We didn't hear anything, nothing at all.
Mr Sykes: Well, it was a pretty noisy party. My wife knocked over the goldfish tank while we were clearing up. The poor fish died. I'm just burying them before the children wake up.
A. What do you think your parents/brothers/sisters/friends
are doing this moment?
If you think you know what they are doing answer with:
They must be doing this. They can't be doing that. They're probably doing this.
If you don't know, use:
They could/may/might be doing this.
or:
They're possibly doing this.
4. Policeman: OK. I've been following your car now for ten
minutes. You've been driving at far more than
the speed limit and in a very erratic manner.
I think you must have had a little too much to
drink. Driver: I really must protest, officer. I can assure you
that I only drank one glass of whisky — or
maybe two. Policeman: Will you show me your driving licence? And I
need to check your insurance papers too. Driver: Er ... I haven't got them with me. I know I
ought to keep them in the car but I always
forget. Policeman: I think you forgot to stop drinking too! You'd
better get into my car. You certainly oughtn't
to drive any further tonight.
5. Ann: Look, Harry!
That policeman's waving to you. He wants you to stop. Policeman: Where do you think you are?
On a race track?
You must have been driving at seventy miles
an hour!
Harry: I can't have been. Policeman: I was doing eighty when I overtook you.
Didn't you see the speed limit? Harry: I'm afraid I didn't, officer.
I must have been dreaming. Ann: He wasn't dreaming, officer.
I was telling him to drive slowly. Harry: That's why I didn't see the sign. Policeman: Let me see your driving-licence and your
insurance certificate. Policeman: I won't charge you this time.
But you'd better not do it again! Harry: Thank you.
I'll certainly be more careful. Ann: I told you to drive slowly, Harry.
Harry: You always tell me to drive slowly, dear. Ann: Well, next time you'd better take my advice!
6. Jack is on his way to the sports centre to meet some friends. He's feeling miserable because he hasn't got any money. It's his girlfriend's birthday next week. He may not be able to buy her a present and she could be very disappointed. She might even refuse to go out with him! He could ask a friend to lend him a few pounds, but he already owes money to all his friends.
When he arrives at the sports centre, he sees something pink near the entrance. It's a purse and it's full of money. Fifty pounds! Who could it belong to?
'A pink purse can't belong to a boy. It must belong to a girl at the centre,' Jack thinks.
Jack doesn't know what to do. He could pay his debts with the money and he could buy Debbie a present. There's no one in the street, but someone might be watching him.
A. Rephrase the sentences with may.
Perhaps the purse belongs to a girl at the centre. The purse may belong to a girl at the centre.
1. Perhaps the owner is looking for the purse.
2. Perhaps Jack knows the girl.
3.,Perhaps someone will be watching Jack.
4. Perhaps he won't tell anyone about the purse.
5. Perhaps he won't try to find the owner.
6. Perhaps he will put the purse back where it was.
7. Perhaps he will find the owner.
8. Perhaps Jack will get a reward for finding the purse.
B. Say what might happen. Say what you think Jack might or might not do.
Jack might (not) keep the money.
C. What could Jack do with the money? Write five sentences. He could pay his debts.
Say what you could do with fifty pounds in your currency. Think of five things.
I could buy some new clothes.
D. Complete the sentences with must or can't.
It's an expensive leather purse. It isn't scratched. It must be quite new.
1. It smells of leather, so it______be very old.
2. Jack thinks, 'The owner______get a lot of pocket money.'
3. Why does Jack think that the purse______belong to a
girl?
4. Why______it belong to a boy?
5. The owner______be very careless to lose so much money.
6. The owner______know that she has lost the purse outside.
No one is looking for it.
E. a) Imagine that you have found these things in the street or on a bus. Make deductions about the things or the owners
with must and with can't (where possible). Say your answers.
a dog's lead
It must belong to someone who has a dog. The owner must have a dog.
(a pink umbrella, a paintbrush, a tin of cat food, a silk tie, a mask, a pair of football boots, an English grammar book, a balloon on a string, a book about gardening)
b) A pupil thinks of one of the above objects. The class asks questions and tries to guess the object. The pupil answers with Yes, you can/No, it isn't etc. After an answer the class says a sentence with It could be/It can't be or It must be.
Class: Can you use it in the rain?
Pupil: No, you can't.
Class: It can't be the umbrella. Can you read it?
Pupil: Yes, you can.
7. Nick: Jeff wanted to take Ann to the disco on Saturday. She waited for him at home for an hour, but he didn't turn up and he didn't phone. Ann was angry, so she phoned Jake Cook and asked him to take her to the disco. She knew that Jeff and Jake didn't like each other. Later that evening, Jeff saw Ann at the disco with Jake. Jeff felt angry, so he left immediately.
Jane: Something must have delayed Jeff. He should have
phoned Ann to explain. He could even have had an
accident on the way to her house. Nick: He might have forgotten about the disco. Jane: No. He can't have forgotten about Ann! But she
shouldn't have gone out with Jake. Nick: I agree. But they needn't have been so angry with
each other.
A. Suggest possible reasons why Jeff didn't turn up at Ann's house. Use might/may have been or could + past participle.
A visitor might have arrived unexpectedly. He could have lost his watch.
B. Complete the sentences with must have or can't have + past participle.
Later, Jeff said the he had phoned Ann before the disco. Ann can't have heard (hear) the phone.
1. Why didn't she hear the phone? The television______
(be) too loud.
2. Because Ann didn't answer the phone, Jeff______(think)
that she had already gone out.
3. After the disco, Ann didn't look very happy. She______
(enjoy) the evening.
4. Jake looked miserable too. He______(be) disappointed.
5. Jake didn't mention Jeff. Jake______(know) that Ann
had planned to go to the disco with him.
6. Jane didn't know the story about Ann and Jeff. Ann ______(tell) her.
7. A week after the evening at the disco, Ann got a letter
from Jeff. In the letter Jeff______(explain) what had
happened and how he had felt. Ann understood.
.8. Next Saturday, Ann and Jeff are going to the cinema together. They______(solve) their problems.
C. What do you think Jeff, Ann and Jake should have done or shouldn't have done to avoid problems?
8. Mr Fielding: Sorry to hear about the fire, Charles. Not
too much damage, I hope?
Mr Williams: No, it wasn't too bad. We've had to redecorate the whole of the living-room, but the rest of the house wasn't damaged.
Mr Fielding: I suppose it must have been a cigarette end.
Mr Williams: Probably. We ought to have checked for that sort of thing after the party, of course, but we were so tired we went straight to bed.
Mr Fielding: I wonder who the culprit was? It couldn't
have been me — I don't smoke. Mr Williams: It might have been Ted Redman or Bill
Coleman — the more they drink, the worse
they get. Mr Fielding: It could well have been old Bill. He was
standing by the big window, flicking his
ash all over the place. Mr Williams: So he was! Still, it could have been anyone,
and the insurance company's paying the
bill.
A. Add the most suitable modal and the appropriate verb forms.
Example He (can't/must/may: finish) yet; he's only just started. He can't have finished yet; he's only just started.
1. Someone has broken a big window in the classroom. The broken glass was inside the room, so it (may/must/can't: break) from the outside. It was probably broken by a ball, but of course it (might/couldn't/must: be) a stone. I didn't find a stone or a ball in the room, but a boy (couldn't/must/ could: pick) it up before I arrived. I did some marking in the room after school yesterday and it (may/must/can't: be) at least 5 o'clock when I left. The window was all right then, so it (must/mustn't/couldn't: break) after 5 o'clock last night or before 8.30 this morning. William often breaks things, but it (must/mustn't/couldn't: be) him because he's away from school this week. It (may/must/can't: be) that rough boy Roy, but I can't be sure because there were at least six boys playing football outside when I left and it (must/may/ mustn't: be) any of them.