Structure: modal verb + be + present participle (-ing) of the verb
She must work hard. She must be working hard.
They might come home. They might be coming home.
She can´t speak seriously. She can´t be speaking seriously.
This structure can be used with all modals!
Structure: modal verb + have + past participle (third form) of the verb
She must love you. She must have loved you.
I´m sure she loves you. I´m sure she loved you.
They might win the game. They might have won the game.
It´s possibile that they will win. I don´t know the results – but it´s possible.
She can´t solve the puzzle. She can´t have solved the puzzle.
It will be impossible for her. She must have had some help – it was impossible for someone with her capacity.
Read the sentences and answer the questions.
1 This must be a conspiracy theory.
2 It might explain the words in her most famous speech.
3 It could explain why she always wore a lots of make-up.
4 Serious historians say the story can’t be true.
5 Some people think it may be true.
6 It might not be just a story.
A Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something is true?
B Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something is NOT true?
C Which verbs do we use when there is a 50%
possibility that something is true(or not)?
D What form of the verb comes after
the verbs in blue?
Check the answers.
1 This must be a conspiracy theory.
2 It might explain the words in her most famous speech.
3 It could explain why she always wore a lots of make-up.
4 Serious historians say the story can’t be true.
5 Some people think it may be true.
6 It might not be just a story.
A Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something is true?
B Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something is NOT true?
C Which verbs do we use when there is a 50%
possibility that something is true(or not)?
D What form of the verb comes after
the verbs in blue?
A must
B can’t
C may/may/could
D infinitive without to
Read the sentences and answer the questions.
1 Some senior ministers might have known the secret.
2 This girl must have been the princess.
3 She may have died.
4 This could have happened.
5 It can’t have been easy.
6 They may not have realised the truth.
7 The king couldn’t have known.
A Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something was true?
B Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something was NOT true?
C Which verbs do we use when there is a 50%
possibility that something was true (or not)?
D What comes after the modal verbs- have +____?
Check the answers.
1 Some senior ministers might have known the secret.
2 This girl must have been the princess.
3 She may have died.
4 This could have happened.
5 It can’t have been easy.
6 They may not have realised the truth.
7 The king couldn’t have known.
A Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something was true?
B Which verb do we use when we are 90%
certain that something was NOT true?
C Which verbs do we use when there is a 50%
possibility that something was true (or not)?
D What comes after the modal verbs- have +____?
A must
B can’t/couldn’t
C may/might/could
D past participle