MODALS AND ADVERBS OF CERTAINTY

MODALS AND ADVERBS OF CERTAINTY

Adverbs of certainty

Adverbs of certainty express how certain we feel about an action or event.

Examples:

- He definitely left the house this morning.

- He surely won't forget.

- He is probably in the park.

As you can see adverbs of certainty go before

the main verb unless the main verb is 'to be', in which

case the adverb of certainty goes after.

If there is an auxiliary verb, the adverb of certainty goes between the auxiliary and the main verb.

Examples:

- He has certainly forgotten the meeting.

- He will probably remember tomorrow.

- He is definitely running late.

Sometimes these adverbs of certainty can be placed at the beginning of the sentence.

Examples:

- Undoubtedly, Winston Churchill was a great politician.

- Certainly, I will be there.

- Probably, he has forgotten the meeting.

When the adverb of certainty surely is placed at the beginning of the sentence, it means the speaker thinks something is true, but is looking for confirmation.

Examples:

- Surely you've got a bicycle.

- Surely you're not going to wear that to the party.

Multiple Choice

Choose the adverb of certainty:

He surely won't forget.

• won't

• surely

• forget

• he

Multiple Choice

Choose the adverb of certainty:

Perhaps It will rain.

• it

• Perhaps

• will

• rain

Multiple Choice

Choose the adverb of certainty:

Certainly, I will be there.

• will

• Certainly

• there

• be

Multiple Select

Choose the adverb of certainty:

He definitely left the house this morning.

• definitely

• left

• house

• morning

Multiple Choice

______ she hasn't finished eating the kangaroo.

• Maybe

• Probably

• Definitely

Multiple Choice

I am certainly the best student in my class.

• CORRECT

• WRONG

Multiple Choice

I will definitely travel tomorrow.

• CORRECT

• WRONG

Modals of certainty

Modal verbs can be used to say for instance that a situation is certain, probable, possible or impossible.

The modals of certainty are divide into two parts: certain and uncertain.

Can be used to express ideas about the past, present, and future.

A person who is 100 percent sure uses the verb be, as in,

- “I am sick.”

- "He isn’t hungry".

If they are mostly sure, say 95 percent, they will use the modal must, as in:

- “I must be sick.”

- “I must call.”

- “Sam must not be hungry, he didn’t eat dinner with us.”

When speakers are about 50 percent or less sure, they will use the modals may as in

- “I may be sick.”

- “She may be in class.”

- “Tina may not be in her house.”

If we are sure that something is true in the past, we don’t need to use a modal we just use the verb to be in its past form:

- She was sick.

- He was in Germany.

- Clint and Jonh were not interested.

If they are mostly sure, say 95 percent you would say:

- “She must have been sick.”

- “They might have been in the office.”

- “George could have not been with Gena.”

When speakers are about 50 percent or less sure:

- She may have been sick.

- They may have not been at the party.

- She could have been sick.

- Linda and Franklyn could have not been to Spain.

When you are sure 100%:

- He will do well on the test.

- I am going to phone Elenor later.

- Jill and her kids will be here on time.

- I am not going to write that later.

- I will not be there next week.

If you are mostly sure, say 95% you would say:

- He should do well on the test.

- He should not be in the lab at nine.

- Mary ought to do well on the quiz.

- Louis ought to call at five.

When you are about 50% or less sure:

- She may do well on the test.

- We may not be there for him next month.

- He might do well on the test.

- Jean might lose her temper after you give her the news.

- He could do well on the test.

QUIZ TIME!

Multiple Choice

I wonder why the TV is on in the living room. No one is in there.

Grandma _______ to turn it off. She was in the living room earlier and was probably watching it.

• must forget

• must have forgotten

• must be forgetting

Multiple Choice

When Ms. White answered the door, I noticed her hands and clothes were dirty.

Really? That's odd.

Not really. I figured she ______ in her garden when she heard the doorbell ring, and came inside to answer it. She's really into gardening.

• must work

• must have worked

• must have been working

Multiple Choice

Excuse me. Could you tell me which bus I should take to get to City Hall?

Hmmm. Bus number 63 ______ there. But you'd better ask the driver.

• must go

• might go

• goes

Multiple Choice

Where's the left-over chicken from dinner last night?

I just saw it when I got some ice cubes. It _____ in the freezer.

• must be

• might be

• is

Multiple Choice

Do you know where Eva is?

She _____ at Barbara's house. She said something about wanting to visit after work today, but I'm really not sure.

• must be

• could be

• is

Multiple Choice

George ordered a large hamburger with everything on it except onions. He _______________ like onions.

• might not

• might'nt

• should

• can

Multiple Choice

My passport ___ be in at home. I’ve already looked inside my bag three times.

• must

• may

• can’t