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Modals of Possibility

This document discusses the use of modal verbs to speculate about present, past, and future events. It provides exercises where students are asked to complete sentences and tables using modals like "must", "might", and "can't" to make inferences. For example, one exercise asks students to speculate what packages contain and who they are for based on limited information about contents, weights and names. Another asks students to use modals to speculate about possible future consequences of current events or trends.

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69 views3 pages

Modals of Possibility

This document discusses the use of modal verbs to speculate about present, past, and future events. It provides exercises where students are asked to complete sentences and tables using modals like "must", "might", and "can't" to make inferences. For example, one exercise asks students to speculate what packages contain and who they are for based on limited information about contents, weights and names. Another asks students to use modals to speculate about possible future consequences of current events or trends.

Uploaded by

milena
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals of probability No.

2
SPECULATING ABOUT THE PRESENT

Exercise 1. In the Despatch Department of a mail order firm selling office supplies there are three
packages, but the address labels are not complete. The packages are for three customers, Mr. Green, Mr.
Brown, and Mr. White. The packages contain paper, a personal photocopier, and a computer. The
packages weigh 18kg, 20kg, and 22kg.

PACKAGE A B C

NAME: Mr. Green

CONTENTS: computer paper

WEIGHT: 18kg

TASK A. Complete the sentences using MUST, MIGHT, CAN’T. NOTE: type the answers in lower case.
.
1. Package B ________ be for Mr. Brown or it __________ be for Mr. White.
Package C ________ be for Mr. Green, because we know A is for him.
2. Package A ________ contain the photocopier, because the computer is in B and the paper is in C.
3. Mr. Brown’s package _________ be heavier than C, but it _________ not be as heavy as A.

TASK B. Fill in the missing details in the table using the following piece of information:
Mr. Green’s package is not as heavy as Mr. Brown’s.
NOTE: COMPLETE THE TABLE BY WRITING THE NAME OR WEIGHT ACCORDING TO THE
GIVEN EXAMPLE.

SPECULATING ABOUT THE FUTURE


Exercise 2. Complete the newspaper article with the words in the box.

might harbor could have may be able to


may strike might start could still be
might kill could escape could prevent

Scientists are planning to examine the body of a young woman who died almost 100 years ago.
They believe that the body of Phyllis Burn _________________ (1) the deadly virus which killed
over 20 million people in the great influenza epidemic of 1918.
Experts know that the influenza virus – which can take many forms - ________________ (2) again at
any time; while most forms of the virus are fairly harmless, they fear that a form similar to the one in 1918
_________________ (3) millions of people. If they can study the 1918 virus, they __________________ (4)
develop a vaccine against this dangerous strain. Such a vaccine __________________ (5) any future
outbreaks of the disease, and _________________ (6) enormous commercial value as well.
Some people have expressed fears about disturbing the body, pointing out that the virus
________________ (7) in the event of an accident. Even after 100 years, it ___________________ (8) lethal
and ____________________ (9) a new outbreak.
Exercise 3. Speculate about possible future events based on the following information. Using MAY,
MIGHT or COULD say what you think will happen. DON’T PUT A FULL STOP at the end of each
sentence, it has already been done!
e.g. The political situation in the Middle East is unstable.
The price of oil might rise.
1. The Christian Democrats are doing very well in the opinion polls.
They __________________________________________________________ .
2. The new Apple iPhone has had excellent reviews.
_______________________________________________________________ .
3. The government is spending much more than it is earning in taxes.
_______________________________________________________________ .
4. There have been a number of delays in the project.
_______________________________________________________________ .

SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Exercise 4. Speculating about the past: modal verb + have + past participle.
Write sentences using the words in brackets. Add any other necessary words, e.g. prepositions, articles, etc.
DON’T PUT A FULL STOP at the end of each sentence, it has already been done!

1. They say they definitely sent the shipment, but it never arrived.
(They/must/send it/wrong address)
______________________________________________________ .
2. You receive a memo saying that a company’s phone number has changed.
(They/must/move/new premises)
__________________________________________________________ .
3. You have come for a 10 o’clock meeting. It is now 10.15 and no-one else is there.
(The meeting/must/be cancelled)
__________________________________________________________ .
4. It is 12.20. You ring a colleague but there is no reply.
(He/might/go to lunch)
__________________________________________________________ .
5. She was engaged when I rang her but I don’t know who she was talking to.
(She/might/be phoning/Sales Department)
__________________________________________________________ .
6. The equipment was repaired last week, but it has gone wrong again.
(It/can’t/ repair/properly)
__________________________________________________________ .

Exercise 5. REVIEW. Rewrite each of the following sentences using MIGHT, CAN’T, MUST, and a suitable
infinitive. DON’T PUT A FULL STOP at the end of each sentence, it has already been done!

1. It’s possible that they will give us the discount we want.


They ______________________________________________________________________ .
2. Judging by the phone bill, I am sure she has been making long international calls.
Judging by the phone bill, she __________________________________________________ .
3. The factory is on a three-day week. I’m sure they aren’t selling many cars.
The factory is on a three-day week. They _________________________________________ .
4. It was a very bad deal. I am sure they lost a lot of money.
It was a very bad deal. They ___________________________________________________ .
5. There’s a chance he will be promoted at the end of the year.
He _______________________________________________________________________ .
6. She seemed very surprised to see me, so I am sure she wasn’t expecting me.
She seemed very surprised to see me. She ________________________________________ .
7. He went home at 4.30, so I am sure he hasn’t heard the announcement.
He went home at 4.30, so he ___________________________________________________ .

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