Where’s Bob?

MODAL VERBSMODAL VERBSMODAL VERBSMODAL VERBS

POSSIBILITY 1- We use CANCANCANCAN or COULDCOULDCOULDCOULD for theoretical possibility. CanCanCanCan there be life on Mars? CanCanCanCan that be Peter over there? The weather could becould becould becould be better tomorrow. (it’s possible) 2- We use MAY, MIGHT, COULDMAY, MIGHT, COULDMAY, MIGHT, COULDMAY, MIGHT, COULD + INFINITIVEINFINITIVEINFINITIVEINFINITIVE to talk about likelihood in the present or future. He may bemay bemay bemay be in a meeting. (quite likely to be true) She might/could bemight/could bemight/could bemight/could be here already. (less likely) You are looking for Bob. Nobody is sure where he is but you get some suggestions. (perhaps he is in his office) (perhaps he’s having lunch) (perhaps Ann knows)

3- We use COULD/MAY/MIGHTCOULD/MAY/MIGHTCOULD/MAY/MIGHTCOULD/MAY/MIGHT + HAVEHAVEHAVEHAVE + PAST PARTICIPLEPAST PARTICIPLEPAST PARTICIPLEPAST PARTICIPLE to talk about the possibility that past events happened. His face was familiar. We may have metmay have metmay have metmay have met somewhere before. (Perhaps he’s met him before) He’s not in the office. He might have finishedmight have finishedmight have finishedmight have finished work early. (Perhaps he’s finished work early) She could have beencould have beencould have beencould have been at the party, but I didn’t see her. (Perhaps she was at the party)

I / you / he, etc

mmmmayayayay

mightmightmightmight

(not)(not)(not)(not)

bbbbeeee (in his office, true, etc.) bbbbe e e e (doinginginging/workinginginging / sleepinginginging, etc.)

ddddo o o o / know know know know / havehavehavehave / want want want want, etc.

He might bemight bemight bemight be having lunch

Ask Ann. She mightmightmightmight know.

He may bemay bemay bemay be in his office

I /you / he, etc.

mmmmayayayay

mightmightmightmight

(not) have(not) have(not) have(not) have

bbbbeeneeneeneen (asleep / at home, etc) bbbbeen een een een (doinginginging / waitinginginging, etc)

ddddoneoneoneone / knownknownknownknown / hadhadhadhad / seenseenseenseen, etc

CERTAINTY (deduction) 1- We use MUSTMUSTMUSTMUST to say that we are sure about something in the present or the past. You must bemust bemust bemust be pleased with your exam results. (present) He must have touched upmust have touched upmust have touched upmust have touched up the photograph. (past) 2- We use CANCANCANCAN’’’’TTTT or COULDNCOULDNCOULDNCOULDN’’’’TTTT, not MUSN’T, in negative sentences. That ccccaaaannnn’’’’tttt bbbbeeee Nicole Kidman. She’s not young enough. (present) They ccccaaaannnn’’’’tttt hhhhaaaavvvveeee ggggooootttt lllloooosssstttt. They know the area really well. (past) It ccccoooouuuullllddddnnnn’’’’tttt hhhhaaaavvvveeee bbbbeeeeeeeennnn Tom that I saw. (past)