Wecanusemodalverbstospeculateorguessifsomething istrueusingtheavailableinformation.Themodalverbwe choosewilldependonhowcertainweareaboutthe possibility.Thistablewillhelpyouunderstandhowtouse modalverbstomakedeductionsaboutthepast.
perhaps,possibly,probably,maybe,it’spossible(that), there’sachance(that),butI’mnotsure,Ithinkbecause
ORIGINALSENTENCE
It’spossible thatsomething happenorwas trueinthepast.
HAVE,MAY,MIGHT,COULD, PASTPARTICIPLE
TRANSFORMEDSENTENCEwithmodals
Perhapshehasalreadybeeninformed. He already He forgotaboutthemeeting. He aboutthemeeting. They overheardwhatshesaid. They whatshesaid. Johnhasbeenwaitingforyouthere. John foryouthere. hehasalreadyfinished. He already shewaslyingtoyou She toyou Ithinkshegotataxihome, She ataxihome.
I’msure(that),I’mcertain(that),I’mpositive(that), Ihavenodoubt(that),thereisnodoubt(that),so…likely…
ORIGINALSENTENCE
Wefeelsure thatsomething happenedor wastrueinthe past,oritwas theonly realistic possibility.
HAVE,MUST, PASTPARTICIPLE
TRANSFORMEDSENTENCEwithmodals
I’msurethatyouknewthatwehadatest today–theteachersentusallamessage. You thatwehadatesttoday–theteachersentusallamessage.
I’mcertainthattheyhave overheardwhatshesaid. They whatshesaid.
I’mpositivethathehasnotbeeninformed. He not Ihavenodoubtthatshehasbeenlyingtous. She tous.
Thereisnodoubtthathewastryingto trickyououtofyourmoney. He totrickyououtofyourmoney. Hehadbeenworkingontheprojectformonths, hewas exhausted.
Hehadbeenworkingontheprojectformonths, sohe exhausted.
It’simposible(that),It’snotpossible(that)…,Iknow…because…
ORIGINALSENTENCE
Wefeelsure thatsomething wasnot possible.
HAVE,CAN’T, PASTPARTICIPLE
TRANSFORMEDSENTENCEwithmodals
It’simpossiblethathehasalreadybeen informedaboutit.Hewasn’tatthemeeting. He already aboutit. Hewasn’tatthemeeting.
It’snotpossiblethatyousawhimatschool yesterday.He’sbeensickallweek.
It’snotpossiblethathe’sdriventhere. Hiscarkeysarestillhere.
You
himatschoolyesterday. He’sbeensickallweek.
He there. Hiscarkeysarestillhere.
Iknowhewasn’tinBarcelonalastMonday becauseIsawhiminMadridthatday. He inBarcelonalastMonday becauseIsawhiminMadridthatday.
