Gramática · G10
Modals — Possibility & Deduction
playing detective with zero evidence
los modales de posibilidad y deducción
In this unit
You can also use modal verbs to guess how sure you are about something. Use 'must be' when you're almost certain it's true, 'can't be' when you're almost certain it's false, and 'might/may/could be' when you're not sure. In this unit you'll practise making these deductions, and remember the modal is always followed by a bare infinitive.
Los modales también sirven para expresar tu grado de seguridad. Usa 'must be' cuando estás casi seguro de que es verdad, 'can't be' cuando estás casi seguro de que es falso, y 'might/may/could be' cuando dudas. Aquí practicarás estas deducciones, recordando que tras el modal va infinitivo sin to.
How you'll practise: must be, can't be or might be? · True or False? · Circle the mistake, then write the correct version below · Make a deduction (must be / can't be) · Your real life.
El slang se queda en la frase. Toca la palabra con puntos — o clic derecho — y sale qué significa.
The story of English · la historia
The same modals picked up a second job — guessing — and there's a natural reason. 'Must' means something is required; but if something is required, it is also very likely. So 'you must stay' (an order) is only a small step from 'that must be her' (almost certain). 'Might' and 'could' cover weaker guesses. Spanish does the same with 'deber de' ('debe de estar en casa' = 'she must be at home'), so the idea is familiar — only the words are new.
Los mismos modales cogieron un segundo oficio — conjeturar — y hay una razón natural. 'Must' significa que algo es obligatorio; pero si algo es obligatorio, también es muy probable. Así que 'you must stay' (una orden) está a un paso de 'that must be her' (casi seguro). 'Might' y 'could' cubren conjeturas más débiles. El español hace lo mismo con 'deber de' ('debe de estar en casa' = 'she must be at home'), así que la idea es familiar — solo son nuevas las palabras.
In plain English · en cristiano
must be = sure it's true; can't be = sure it's false; might / may / could be = not sure. Always + bare infinitive.
must be = seguro que sí; can't be = seguro que no; might / may / could be = no seguro. Siempre + infinitivo sin to.
El patrón · The pattern
MUST BE · sure it's true
That DM must be — too good to be real.
CAN'T BE · sure it's false · MIGHT · maybe
The wifi's down — they can't be online. She might be a bit .
IN CONTEXT · en contexto
The lights are off — they can't be home.
How do we do this in spanish? · ¿Y en español?
Spanish uses 'deber de' for deduction (debe de estar); English uses must be / can't be.
El español usa 'deber de' (debe de estar); el inglés usa must be / can't be.
Want to learn it with the song?
Modal Verbs Song 3nglishwith3li.com/songs
Letra · Lyrics
“I would if I could, but I can't”
escáneame todas las canciones→
Ready to try? Hope so… here come the questions
Answers live at the back — no peeking till you’ve had a real go.
Important examples (you might need these) — warm up with these
•That giveaway must be — it's way too good.
Ese sorteo tiene que ser mentira: es demasiado bueno.
•She might be a bit about the whole thing.
Puede que esté un poco ilusa con todo esto.
•He can't be telling the truth — total .
No puede estar diciendo la verdad: señal de alarma total.
Amust be, can't be or might be?
1. That giveaway (must) be — it's too good.
Ese sorteo tiene que ser mentira: es demasiado bueno.
2. She (might) be a bit about it.
Puede que esté un poco ilusa con esto.
3. He (can't) be telling the truth — total .
No puede estar diciendo la verdad: red flag total.
BTrue or False?
1.'must be' shows you're sure something is true. ****
'must be' muestra que estás seguro de que algo es cierto.
2.'can't be' shows a possibility. ****
'can't be' muestra una posibilidad.
3.'might' and 'may' show something is possible. ****
'might' y 'may' muestran que algo es posible.
4. After these modals we use 'to be'. ****
Tras estos modales usamos 'to be'.
CCircle the mistake, then write the correct version below.
1. That must to be fake.
Eso tiene que ser falso.
2. She must be , isn't she?
Está ilusa, ¿no?
3. It can't be truth.
No puede ser verdad.
DMake a deduction (must be / can't be).
1. He must be lying. (negative deduction)→
Debe de estar mintiendo. (deducción negativa)→
2. They might come. (question)→
Puede que vengan. (pregunta)→
3. She can't be serious. (question)→
No puede hablar en serio. (pregunta)→
EYour real life. Write TWO deductions about a classmate who's smiling all day.
•Look at a friend's suspicious story — write TWO deductions ('must be', 'can't be').
Mira una story sospechosa y escribe DOS deducciones ('must be', 'can't be').
1.
2.
CAMBRIDGE PRACTICE · B1 Preliminary · Reading & Writing · Part 5
Exam tip. Deduction gaps: must (sure it's true), can't (sure it's false), might/may (possible). Read the text. Write ONE word in each gap (1–4).
Lee el texto. Escribe UNA palabra en cada hueco (1–4).
1. The lights are off — they (1) be at home.
2. She's been up all night, so she (2) be exhausted.
3. It (3) snow tonight, but I'm not sure.
4. That (4) be his real number — it's far too short.
BOSS LEVEL · Sure or Not Sure?
Tick True if the speaker is certain.
Marca True si quien habla está seguro.
1. That DM must be — it's way too good. ****
Ese mensaje tiene que ser mentira: es demasiado bueno.
2. She might be a bit about the whole thing. ****
Puede que esté un poco ilusa con todo esto.
3. He can't be telling the truth — total . ****
No puede estar diciendo la verdad: señal de alarma total.
4. The wifi's down, so they must be raging. ****
Se ha caído el wifi, así que deben de estar que trinan.
How did you do? Did you check the answers?
¿Qué tal? ¿Has mirado las soluciones al final?
✓ consider it unlocked
NIVEL DESBLOQUEADO
I can show possibility with can, could, may and might.
Sé mostrar posibilidad con can, could, may y might.
I can deduce with must be and can't be.
Sé deducir con must be y can't be.
I use the bare infinitive after the modal.
Uso el infinitivo sin to tras el modal.
I learnt it with “Modal Verbs Song”, not just the rules.
Lo aprendí con «Modal Verbs Song», no solo con reglas.
I read the Story of English hiding behind it.
Leí la Historia del Inglés que se esconde detrás.
I had a go at the Boss Level.
Le he metido mano de verdad al Boss Level.
. Periodt.
Has entendido la tarea. Y punto.