We use modal verbs: must, may, might, could, or cant to speculate about events in the past

LESS CERTAIN: may, might, could MORE CERTAIN: must Certain that the statement is false: cant, couldnt

Definite- 100% may may not

impossible-0% might must not might not could could not

must

we use must to make deductions when we are almost sure or more certain.

for past deductions we use must + have + past participle

hed been working for 10 hours when I saw him. He must have been very tired.

For past we use cant + have + past participle

He cant have failed the exam. Hes a very good student!

We use may / might/ could + have + P.P for past events. he may / might / could have phoned while you were out. The answer phone was switched off.

Deduction must have and cant have + past participle The plane ______ _______ run out of fuel. It ______ ______ blown up in mid-air

Speculation Could/may/might have + past participle What could ______ happened to them?

They could ____ ____ up on a desert island.

Earhart and Noonan may ____ ____ US spies. Aliens ____ ____ abducted them.

We use ______ ______ when we are sure something happened. We use ______ ______ when we are sure something did not happen. We use _____ _____ _____ to talk about what possibly happened