B2+ - Unit 2 - Class 2 - Modal Verbs (Part 2)

B2+ - Unit 2 - Class 2 - Modal Verbs (Part 2)

by Teacher Mai Thùy

• ​Speculation

• ​Deduction

• ​Possibility

• ​Probability

Open Ended

WHAT DO YOU INFER FROM THIS PHOTO?

For example: The man on the left COULD BE an inexperienced driver.

​a. The man on the left MIGHT be

an inexperienced driver.

1.​ Is it SPECULATION or DEDUCTION?

​2. Does it refer to the PRESENT or the PAST?

3. ​In this situation, what modal verbs can be used instead of MIGHT?

​a. The man on the left MIGHT be

an inexperienced driver.

1.​ It is SPECULATION.

→ There is a 50% possibility

that something is true.

​2. It refers to the PRESENT.

​3. MAY & COULD can also be used.

Fill in the Blanks

Change this speculation into its NEGATIVE form: 

The man on the left might be an inexperienced driver.

Multiple Select

In case there is 50% possibility that something is NOT TRUE, we can use:

• cannot + V-inf

• may not + V-inf

• might not + V-inf

In the PRESENT & FUTURE, we use

may (not), might (not), could + V-inf

when there is a 50% possibility

that something is true (or not).​

​➥ How about SPECULATION in THE PAST?

Multiple Select

Choose MODAL VERBS to say

"there is 50% possibility that something WAS true": 

He ___ distracted by his mobile phone.

• may have been

• might have been

• could have been

• must have been

Fill in the Blanks

Change this speculation to say

"there is 50% possibility

that something WAS NOT true":

He might have been distracted by his mobile phone.

In the PAST, we use

may (not) have, might (not) have,

could have + PAST PARTICIPLE

when there is a 50% possibility

that something WAS true (or not).​

​b. Two cars must be damaged.

1.​ Is it SPECULATION or DEDUCTION?

​2. Does it refer to the PRESENT or the PAST?

​b. Two cars must be damaged.

1.​ It is DEDUCTION.

​→ We are 90% certain that something is true.

​2. It refers to the PRESENT.

​

Multiple Choice

In case we are 90% certain that something is NOT true, we say:

• Two cars MUST NOT be badly damaged.

• Two cars MAY NOT be badly damaged.

• Two cars CANNOT be badly damaged.

• Two cars MIGHT NOT be badly damaged.

​c. Two cars must have hit each other.

1.​ Is it SPECULATION or DEDUCTION?

​2. Does it refer to the PRESENT or the PAST?

​c. Two cars must have hit each other.

1.​ It is DEDUCTION.

​→ We are 90% certain that something was true.

​2. It refers to the PAST.

​

Multiple Choice

In case we are 90% certain that something was NOT TRUE, we use:

• must not have + past participle

• cannot have + past participle

Fill in the Blanks

Change this deduction to say "we are 90% certain that something WAS NOT TRUE":

The car on the left must have hit the other car.

In the PRESENT & FUTURE, we use

must, cannot + V-inf

when we are 90% certain

that something is true or not true.​

In the PAST, we use

must, cannot + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

when we are 90% certain

that something was true or not true.​

Open Ended

WHAT DO YOU INFER FROM THIS PHOTO?

(use MODAL VERBS you have learned

to give full answers)