Degrees of certainty

A: I’ve heard that your daughter recently graduated from law school and that your son has gotten a scholarship to the state university. You .............. them.

B: We are

• must be proud of

• may be proud of

• could be proud of

A: Hello?

B: Hello. May I speak to Ron?

A: I’m sorry. You ..............................

There’s no one here by that name.

• may have the wrong number

• could have the wrong number

• must have the wrong number

A: Where’s Ms. Adams? She’s not in her office.

B: I don’t know. She ................... , or maybe she’s in the employee lounge.

• may be at the meeting

• might be at the meeting

• could be at the meeting

• must be at the meeting

A: This winter jacket is still in good shape, but Brian has outgrown it. Do you think it would fit one of your sons?

B: Well, it’s probably too small for Danny too, but it ..........

• may fit Jimmy.

• could fit Jimmy.

• might fit Jimmy.

• must fit Jimmy.

A: How long has it been since you last saw your family?

B: More than a year.

A: You .................

• may miss them a lot

• might miss them a lot

• could miss them a lot

• must miss them a lot

A: I can't hear the singers! That man sitting behind us is snoring in his sleep!

B: I hear him! He .................opera.

• can't be him

• can't be true

• may not be

• may not speak

• must not like

A: Look! Isn't that our history professor over there? In the yellow sweater!

B: No, that ................... . He's in Tokyo this week, giving a presentation.

• can't be him

• can't be true

• may not be

• may not speak

• must not like

A: Who is the woman standing alone over there? She isn't talking to anyone.

B: Well, she ................... any English. Or maybe she's very shy. Anyway, let's go over and try to talk to her.

• can't be him

• can't be true

• may not be

• may not speak

• must not like

This little boy is crying. His knees are scraped and bleeding.

• He may have fallen down.

• He must have fallen down.

Someone called, but I don't know who it was. Maybe it was Alice, but I'm not sure.

• It may have been Alice.

• It must have been Alice.