Speculating (past, present & future)

Speculating

past, present & future

Speculating (past, present & future)

SSSpepa

We often use the modal verbs might / may / could / must and can't to speculate about the present, past and future.

Might / May /Could

To talk about a possibility. Could / might / may have similar meanings when used to speculate. May is more formal and less commonly used than could or might. She may / might / could be Mexican

Must

It is used when we want to say that we are certain, based on evidence. You're going swimming in the sea in winter? You must be crazy! * The opposite of must be when making deductions is can't be, not mustn't be.

Can't

It is used when we believe something is impossible, based on evidence. There's no one in that restaurant - it can't be very good (X... There's no one in that restaurant - it mustn't be very good)

Speculating about the past

modal verb + have + past participle

When we speculate about the past we use the modal verb + have + past participle. Everyone is talking about the film last night - it must have been very good. I'm surprised John wasn't at the party - he was really looking forward to it. He must have been sick. It can't have been my husband. He was at home with me all last night

Speculating about present & future events

Be bound to / certain to / likely to

We can also use be + bound to / certain to / likely to to speculate about how probable things are in present and future events. The expression be likely to is not as sure as be bound to / be certain to. Ask Jo, she's really smart, so she's bound /certain to know The weather forecast says it's likely to rain tomorrow