Modal verbs of speculation

Modal verbs of speculation

Modal verbs of speculation and deduction are used to express

our degree of certainty about the present.

• To speculate about a present situation/state, use modal

verb + infinitive, e.g. He must be the king.

• To speculate about an ongoing action, use modal verb

+ be + ing, e.g. He hasn’t come to the meeting, he must be working.

• If the situation is 90% impossible use can’t

• If the situation is 50% possible use might, may, could

• If the situation is 90% possible/likely use must, can’t, couldn’t

modal verbs do not take s in the third person present tense.