Modals - can / could 5

Elephants CAN BE very dangerous.

• a general fact

• a fact about the past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present

A hundred years ago, flu COULD BE very dangerous.

• a general fact

• a fact about the past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present

Your keys COULD BE in your other jacket

• a general fact

• a fact about the past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present

They're 30 minutes late. They COULD HAVE GOT lost.

• a general fact

• a fact about the past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present

This bill CAN'T BE correct. It's too much.

• impossibility present

• a fact about the past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present

You CAN'T/COULDN'T HAVE SEEN me yesterday. I was at home all day.

• impossibility present

• impossibility past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present

They arrived over an hour late. They COULD HAVE PHONED us!

• impossibility present

• impossibility past

• a past event that was possible but didn't happen

• a guess about the past

• a guess about the present