Modal Verbs of probability

MUST and CAN’T (are opposites)

• It’s my opinion and I’m nearly 100% sure.

• It’s logically necessary.

That must be Florence. She said she’d call now.

Должно быть, (скорее всего) это Флоренс. Она сказала, что будет звонить в это время.

Pierre can’t be working! He’s sick.

Не может быть, что Пьер работает! Он болеет.

COULD and MIGHT (are similar to each other)

There is a much weaker probability << 100%.

(Maybe or Perhaps)

That could be Laurence. She told me she’d call sometime today. Вероятно, это Лоренс. Она сказала, что сегодня позвонит.

Mary might be eating at the restaurant tonight.

Возможно, Мэри сегодня вечером будет ужинать в ресторане.

Now, here are these same Modal Verbs expressing probability in the Past: Must have + Participle II / Can’t have + Participle II (Strong Probability)

It must have been a very difficult time for you.

Должно быть, у тебя были трудные времена.

He can’t have driven in France. He’s scared of the autoroute.

Не может быть, что он поехал во Францию на машине. Он боится дороги.

Could have + Participle II / Might have + Participle II

(Weak Probability)

They could have seen each other yesterday.

Возможно, они вчера встречались.

He might have tried to contact you at home.

Он, вероятно, устал общаться с тобой дома.

Don’t worry. It might not have been very important.

Не волнуйся. Возможно, это было не так уж и важно.

1. M

   N o t e:

   The negative “could not have + Participle II” is used when talking about the past does not mean “perhaps not.” It is a negative deduction (i.e. not possibility but fact!)

   They couldn’t have seen each other yesterday. (They were in different towns.) Они не могли бы вчера встретиться. (Они были в разных городах.)

   1. They’ve got four houses.	A.	That can’t be true!
   2. You’re driving too fast.	B.	She can’t be over 30.
   3. She looks so young.	C.	They must be good friends.
   4. They’re always together.	D.	She might be ill.
   5. She’s gone very pale.	E.	They must be rich.
   6. He said he earned over	F.	You could have
   a million.		an accident.
   Fill in the gaps with one of	the	Modal Verbs of probability

   ix and match the sentences.

(can’t, might or must) in appropriate form.

Example:

I’m sure Anry likes animals very much.

Amy must like animals very much.

She always had them around her.

1. She doesn’t like children very much.

She ... like children very much. She doesn’t want any.

2. I’m sure James is a famous actor.

James ... be a famous actor. He’s often on the television and has won an award.

3. Perhaps she has a farm.

She ... have a farm. She likes the countryside very much.

4. I’m sure she didn’t work very hard at school.

She ... worked very hard at school. She had to leave.

5. Perhaps James has won an Oscar.

James ... won Oscar. He’s won several awards.

6. I’m sure she had a lot of friends when she was young.

She ... had a lot of friends when she was young. Her father said a lot of people came to their house.

7. He probably didn’t want her to marry Gerald.

He ... wanted her to marry Gerald. He tried to break them up. 8. He probably wanted her to marry someone famous.

He ... wanted her to marry someone famous. He’s a bit of snob. 9) I’m sure they’re not very close to each other.

They ... be very close to each other. They don’t see each oth- er very often.

10) Perhaps she gets on better with her mother.

She ... get on better with her mother. She doesn’t seem to like her father very much.