1. UNIT 9 Modal verbs

2. Modal verbs
Modal verbs can be used to make deductions, come to conclusions.
Is there anyone absent today? Does anyone know where he or she is?
If not, if we don’t know it as a fact, what conclusions can we come to?
He might/must/can’t be...

3. Classifying the ideas
Take a look at the sentences and say whether they express a possibility, impossibility and logical conclusion.
Paul looks different today. He could be in love.
We are finally going to have lunch together today. Everyone here must be really happy!
Look at that girl! She’s wearing a mini skirt, a top and high heels. She can’t be Mary! It’s not her style.

4. Must and can’t
Must and can’t express the logical conclusion of a situation:
Must – Logically probable
Can’t – Logically improbable

5. You find a purse in an airport, you want to find who it belongs to
You find a purse in an airport, you want to find who it belongs to. You open the bag and you find:

6. My mom usually calls me at this time. The phone’s ringing.
(BE)

7. COULD AND MAY/MIGHT EXPRESS A POSSIBILITY

8. A: Where’s Wally?
B: I really don´t know.
(BE ANYWHERE)

9. PAST OR PRESENT? It may rain today, it’s kind of windy. MODAL + BASE
It may have rained. I fell as sleep and didn’t see anything.
MODAL + HAVE + PARTC

10. You must be exhausted today!
You must have been exhausted that day.
They might/may not go out tonight.
They might/may not have gone out yesterday.
She can’t go skiing.
She can’t have gone skiing.

11. WATCH OUT!!!
It can’t /couldn’t be Tom!
It must not be Tom!

12. Bob works three jobs. (can’t, free time)
He can’t have much free time.

13. The phone’s ringing. (might, Jane)
It might be Jane

14. Paula’s umbrella is soaking wet! ( must, raining)
It must be raining.

15. Listen to all those fire engines! (must, somewhere)
There must be a fire somewhere.

16. I don’t know where Sam is. ( could, his bedroom)
He could be in his bedroom.

17. Marta isn’t in the kitchen. (can’t, cooking dinner)
She can’t be cooking dinner.