What are modals of speculation?

Modals of speculation are modal auxiliary verbs which express degrees of certainty. In other
words, they describe a fact or situation that is definite, probable, possible, or impossible from the
speaker's point of view. (As the speaker is speculating, he/she may be wrong.) Here we'll focus on
speculating about present or future events. For example:
I may buy a new computer this summer, if I can afford it.
He might go back to school for his Master's Degree next year, but he hasn't decided yet.
What is the sentence structure?
The sentence structure is as follows:
subject | modal verb | (negation) | main verb | object/complement
He | must | (not) | be | very happy.
Sandy | may | (not) | study | abroad next fall.
The main verb is always in the plain form, even when the sentence expresses the future.
How are modals of speculation used?
Commonly used modals for present and future events include the following:
Must / will express a definite situation, and must not / will not / could not an impossible one. On
the other hand, may / may not / might / might not / could aren't as clear. The conversation and
intonation may subtly change the meaning. However, may /may not are more certain than might /
might not / could, and these last three modals express a weak probability.
must:
+ He must really enjoy life because he always has a smile on his face.
- He must not (mustn't) be very happy if he always has a frown.
will:
+ If all countries stop polluting, greenhouse gases will significantly drop.
- Many industrialized countries will not (won't) stop polluting the environment!
may:
+ Sandy may study abroad next fall, but only if she gets good grades this spring.
- If Sandy doesn't get good grades this spring, she may not study abroad next fall.
might:
+ Although we might have cars that fly in 50 years, I doubt it.
- Gasoline-powered transportation might not exist in 50 years. We'll use electric cars.
could:
+ I could vote for in the next election if one of the candidates interests me.
- Jim is very conservative. He could not (couldn't) ever vote for a liberal politician.

Is there additional information on modals of speculation?

There are a few more important points to consider.
First, modal verbs never take a third-person singular s, as in:
If it snows this afternoon, Tim coulds be late.
Franz mights spend the summer in California.
In addition, modal verbs are always followed by a verb in the plain or bare infinitive form, never to
+ verb. So the following sentence is wrong:
Tim could to be late if it snows this afternoon.
Franz might to spend the summer in California.
Lastly, the contraction of might not is mightn't. However, this no so commonly used nowadays and
should generally be avoided.
What are modals of speculation?
Modal auxiliary verbs express degrees of certainty. In other words, they describe a fact or situation
that is definite, probable, possible, or impossible. However, despite the degree of certainty (or
uncertainty), the speaker may be wrong. Here we'll focus on speculating about past events. For
example:
A: Kelly must have gone somewhere tropical for vacation because she's sunburned.
B: Actually, she got some free tickets for a tanning salon. She didn't go anywhere last week.
What is the sentence structure?
The sentence structure is as follows:
subject | modal verb | (negation) | have | past participle | object/complement
Mary | must | (not) | have | done | well on the test.
Jennifer | could | (not) | have | made | as much money as she claims.
How are modals of speculation used?
Commonly used modals for past events include the following:
Must have expresses a definite situation, and must not have /could not have an impossible one.
When we use may have /may not have, we aren't as certain. And when expressing weak
probability, use might have /might not have /could have.
must have:
+ She must have gone somewhere tropical for vacation because she's sunburned.
- She must not (mustn't) have enjoyed her trip skiing because she broke her leg!

may have:
+ Alex may have spent some time in Paris because he often talks about the city.
- Alex may not have enjoyed Paris because he rarely says anything positive about the city.
might have:
+ The economy might have gotten worse without the tax cuts.
- The tech bubble might not have happened if people had invested more carefully.
could have:
+ Romney could have won the 2012 election if he had responded.
- McCain could not (couldn't) have won the 2008 Presidential election.
Is there additional information on modals of speculation?
Yes, there is. When speculating about past events, the sentence must use have + past participle.
For example: have seen / have done / have gone. However, the phrase or sentence which provides
the reason doesn't have to use the present perfect tense.
Kelly must have gone somewhere tropical for vacation because she is sunburned.
Tim might not have studied hard enough because he didn't pass the test.
In the first sentence, we can understand that Kelly is sunburned now, and so people think she
went on vacation. In the second sentence, Tim didn't pass the test, and so people believe he didn't
study.

Transcripcin de Speculating about the future

Grammar:
Speculating about the future As there is no future tense, talking about the future
is often concerned with how sure you feel that something will happen, and modal
verbs (will, may, might, could, etc.) play a huge part.
I could go to the Movies this weekend. Even though modal verbs give you a
good idea of how likely somebody sees a future event, you usually use adverbs
(almost, certainly, definitely, easily, probably, possible) to modify your meaning.
The adverb follows the modal verbs will, may, might, and could:
It will almost certainly happen within our lifetime. However, the adverb comes
before the modal wont:
We definitely wont see teleportation for at least fifty years. Modals:
will, could, should, might, may.
Adverbs (will, won't)

certainly, probably, definitely, probably, easily.

Adverbs: (may, might, could)
certainly, probably, definitely, probably, easily.
Phrases:
It's likely to...
It's unlikely to....
It's sure to....
Speculating: present, past and future
Choose the correct answer.

1.
2.

You
Paul

can't

be tired. You haven't done anything today.

could

be ill. He didn't come to the class today.

might

3.

We

be going to Italy next summer, but we haven't decided yet.

4.

They don't look very happy. They

must

have been arguing again.

could

5.

Remember to take an umbrella. It

6.

I don't know where Sarah is. I think she

7.

Why didn't you tell me you were coming? I

8.

This parcel

must

rain later.
may
could

have got lost.

have met you at the station.

be for you. It's got your name on it.

Predicting the Future

We can say how sure we feel about the future by using modal verbs. There are also other phrases we can use
to express our certainty or uncertainty about future events.
Modal verbs
We can combine modal verbs with adverbs to show a greater or lesser degree of certainty.

People will definitely work longer hours in the future.

People definitely wont work longer hours in the future.
Both of these sentences show that the speaker is sure.

Youll probably enjoy this film.

You probably wont enjoy this film.
The speaker is thinks (s)hes right but isnt 100% sure.

She might pass the exam or she might not pass. I dont know.

The speaker isnt sure at all. You could also use could or may instead of might.
Other expressions
Here are some other ways to talk about how certain we are about something in the future.
1 Im sure

Jan is bound to pass the exam. Hes worked really hard.

Jan is certain to pass.
2 I think so but Im not 100% sure

Katka is likely to pass the exam.

Katka may well pass the exam.
Theres a good chance that Katka will pass the exam.
3 I dont think so

Juraj is unlikely to pass the exam.

Theres not much chance Juraj will pass.
I doubt if Juraj will pass.
Theres no chance of Juraj passing the exam.

Modal auxiliaries can, may, must

We use modal auxiliary verbs can, may, must in the English language for various meanings - ability,
possiblity, probability, certainty, permission, prohibition, obligation, opinion, speculation, etc.
Can
1. It is used to express the ability to do something.
I can swim very well.
Can he speak English fluently? - No, he can't.
We cannot sing at all!
2. It expresses the possibility to do something.
We can go to the seaside at last. Our holidays start next week.
3. We use it to say that something is probable.
It can be John. He has blond hair and he is wearing glasses.
4. It expresses the permission to do something.
Why not? You can marry her. She is a nice girl.
May
1. It is used for permissions.
You may borrow my car. I won't need it.
May I smoke here? - No, you can't, I'm sorry.

2. It is used to express probability or prediction.

They may call tomorrow. I hope so.
The main difference between may and can is in style. May is more formal than can. Can is typical of
spoken English.
3. The opposite of may is must not or may not.
May I smoke here?
- You mustn't smoke here. (strong prohibition)
- You may not smoke here. (more polite, very formal)
- You can't smoke here. (informal spoken English)

Speculating About the Present

LEVEL: B1 (Intermediate)

To make guesses or deductions about the present and the future, we use must, may, might,
could, cant + Infinitive without to.

Meaning

Modals

Im certain its true. =

must

Im certain its not true.=

cant

Perhaps its true.=

may, could, might

Perhaps its not true.=

may not, might not

I. Match sentences 1-4 with a-d to make pairs which have the same meaning:
1. He must be a professional musician.
2. He might be a professional musician.
3. He might not be a professional musician.
4. He cant be a professional musician.
a) Im sure he isnt a professional musician.
b) Perhaps he isnt a professional musician.
c) Im sure he is a professional musician.
d) Perhaps he is a professional musician.
II. Complete the answers with must or cant and the correct verb:
5. Are they brothers?
They ..must be brothers. They look very similar.
6. Does she have children?
She children. Shes got too much free time.
7. Is he French?
He. French. He hasnt got a French accent.
8. Do I know her?

You her. Shes famous.

9. Do they live here?
They.. here. Ive never seen them before.
III. Match sentences 1-6 to reasons a-f:
10. He must be tired.
11. He cant be hungry yet.
12. He may not come today.
13. He could be joking.
14. He might know how to repair this.
15. He might not understand what youre saying.
a) Hes already two hours late.
b) Hes been studying all day.
c) I think hes a foreigner.
d) Hes good at technical things.
e) His story is difficult to believe.
f) Hes just had a big meal.
IV. Rewrite the sentences replacing the phrase in bold with must, might, may, could or
cant:
16. Its possible that hes Canadian because he speaks French and English.
He could be Canadian because he speaks French and English.
17. Im sure theyre at home because all the lights are on.
They...
18. Im sure that isnt Paulas handbag; she always has a red one.
That....
19. Perhaps Ana knows the answer; why dont you ask her?
Ana
20. I feel sure Richard is very rich: he drives a very expensive car.
Richard..
21. Im sure you arent serious: thats a ridiculous idea!
You.
V. Work in pairs. Use the cues and must/may/might/could to make dialogues:
A: Alex always cycles to school.
B: He must be fit.

A starts

B answers

1. Alex always cycle to school

2. Maria look smart
3. Mike be dressed in black today
4. Jenny never eat meat
5. Sally running across the park
6. Nick always busy at weekends

1. be fit
2. going to a party
3. be in a bad mood
4. be vegetarian
5. doing her morning exercise
6. have an interesting life

Key
Ex. I. 1c, 2d, 3b, 4a.
Ex. II. 2 cant have, 3 must be, 4 must know, 5 cant live.
Ex. III. 1b, 2f, 3a, 4e, 5d, 6c.
Ex. IV. 2 must be at home, 3 cant be Paulas handbag, 4 might know the answer, 5 must be
very rich, 6 cant be serious.
Ex. V. Suggested answers: 2 She might be going to a party, 3 He might be in a bad mood, 4
She must be vegetarian, 5 She must be doing her morning exercise, 6 He must have an
interesting life..
References: