Grammar G12
Exercise instructions
Fill in each gap using must, can’t, could, may or might. There is a grammar explanation at the bottom of the
page.
Example
Someone is knocking on the door. I’m sure it’s my brother – he promised to come today.
must
Someone is knocking on the door. It be my brother – he promised to come today.
1 I'm sure he is here - I can see his car in front of the building.
He be here. I can see his car in front of the building.
2 They're coming this week but I don't know which day.
They be coming tomorrow.
3 I'm not sure I'm going to pass the exam. I don't feel very confident.
I pass the exam. I don't feel very confident.
4 I've bought a lottery ticket. There's a chance I'll become a millionaire!
I become a millionaire!
5 I'm sure she doesn't speak French very well - she's only lived in Paris for a few weeks.
She speak French very well. She's only lived in Paris for a few weeks.
6 My key's not in my pocket or on my desk so I'm sure it's in the drawer.
My key's not in my pocket or on my desk so it be in the drawer.
7 Someone told me that Mark was in Mexico but I saw him yesterday so I'm sure he's not abroad.
Mark be abroad.
8 You got the job? That's great. I'm sure you're delighted.
You got the job? That's great. You be delighted.
9 They told me to prepare the project by tomorrow but it's almost impossible to have it done so fast.
I finish it by tomorrow if I stay at work all night, but I'm not sure.
10 I asked them to send the goods as soon as possible; we receive them by the end of
the week if the post is fast.
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Grammar G12
https://speakspeak.com/english-grammar-exercises/intermediate/intermediate-grammar-exercise-
modal-verbs-for-present-probability-must-cant-could-may-might
Must, can't: expressing present probability
Structure: modal + verb infinitive without ‘to’
must be, can’t be, must have, can’t have, etc.
We use must to express that we feel sure that The team is playing really well today; they must win.
something is true. They must be very rich – look at their big house!
She can't be so ill – I saw her playing volleyball
We use can't to say we are sure that something is yesterday.
impossible. I don't believe you – it can't be true.
May, might, could: probability in the present
Structure: modal verb + verb infinitive without ‘to’
may be, might do, could go, etc.
They may be arriving tomorrow.
We use may, could or might to say that it He might be away on holiday at the moment.
is possible that something will happen in the He could be away on holiday.
future or is happening now. He might get the job.
The negative of may is may not.
The negative of might is might not.
Both may not and might not mean that it is He might not get the job.
possible that something will not happen or is not I may not pass the exam.
happening now. I might not go to the match tomorrow.
We don’t use could not to express probability in the present and future.
I couldn’t go to the match tomorrow.
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Grammar G12
Exercise instructions
Fill in each gap using must have, can’t have, could have, may have or might have. There is a grammar
explanation at the bottom of the page.
Example
Someone was ringing. I’m sure it was my brother – he promised to call.
must have
Someone was ringing. It been my brother – he promised to call.
1 I am sure he was here. I saw his car in front of the building.
He been here.
2 A: Where is James? He should already be here, shouldn't he?
B: Yes, he should but I don't know why he isn't here - he missed the bus.
3 I'm not sure if I passed the exam. I don't feel very sure that I passed.
I passed the exam.
4 A: Last summer I took four exams and failed them all!
B: You been very disappointed.
5 She speaks excellent French. I'm sure she's lived in Paris for a long time.
She lived in Paris for a long time.
6 A: Their plane was delayed and they had to wait 36 hours in the airport.
B: They been very happy with the airline.
7 Someone told me that Mark was in Mexico last week, but I saw him here so he
been in Mexico.
8 A: I saw John yesterday - he looked very pleased with himself. He didn't say why but I think he got that
job he applied for.
B: He got that job he applied for.
9 They gave me very little time to do the job. It's possible I'd have finished if I'd worked all night, but I'm
not sure.
They gave me very little time to do the job. I finished if I'd worked all night, but I'm
not sure.
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Grammar G12
10 We agreed to meet yesterday, but when I got there I didn't see him. It's possible he was waiting
elsewhere.
We agreed to meet yesterday but when I got there I didn't see him. He waiting
elsewhere.
https://speakspeak.com/english-grammar-exercises/intermediate/modal-verbs-for-past-probability-must-have-cant-have-couldnt-have-may-have
Must have, can't have, couldn't have:
expressing past probability
Structure: modal verb + have + past participle
must have been, can't have gone, couldn't have gone, etc.
We use must have to express that we feel sure They must have left early.
that something was true in the past. He must have already gone.
He can't have escaped through this window – it’s too
small.
We use can't have or couldn't have to say that we She can't have said that.
believe something was impossible in the past. She couldn't have said that.
May / might / could have: expressing past probability
Structure: modal + have + past participle
may have been, could have gone, might have lost, etc.
He may have missed the bus.
We use may have, could have, might have to say The road might have been blocked.
that it was possible that something happened in (= ‘I think the road was blocked, but I’m not 100%
the past (but we are not 100% sure). sure.’)
He may not have left yet.
I might not have given her the money; I’m not sure.
The negatives are may not have and might not I could not have given her the money, I’m not
have. We don’t use couldn’t have in the same way. sure.
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