TOPIC 1: Degrees of Certainty in the Present Tense

When you are absolutely certain of something, use the present tense form of
the verb.
Bob is a student at the city college.
Terry has curly brown hair.

When you think you know something, but you're not completely sure,
express that uncertainty by using must + verb.
That must be David. (Someone told you what David looks like, and you think you
recognize him.)
Sarah must be hungry. (You know that she hasn't eaten for a long time.)

If you feel less than 50 percent certain about something, you can use may+
verb, might + verb, or could + verb.
Hank may be home now. (But traffic is often bad.)
We might be at the right address. (But I can't read the house number.)

To express a negative certainty, use the present-tense negative form of the

verb when you are 100 percent certain.
Catherine doesn't have blue eyes.
Delia isn't a teacher.

If you are very close to sure about something, use couldn't + verb or can't +
verb.
Sam couldn't be old enough to drive yet. (He seems too young.)
The grass can't be dry. (It just rained last night.)

If you area little less certain, then use must not + verb.
Troy must not be at work today. (He was out sick yesterday, and his office is empty.)

When you are less than 50 percent sure of something, use may not + verb
or might not +
verb.
Frederic may not be available on Tuesday afternoons. (I don't know his schedule.)
Jessica might not be a member of my gym. (I haven't seen her there.)
PRACTICE EXERCISE 1: Fill in each blank with the verb form that
expresses the appropriate amount of certainty. First use the positive form.
(In some cases, there may be more than one correct answer.)

1. George likes/must like coffee, because he always has a cup in his hand.
2. Billy is/must be asleep, because it's after midnight and he went to bed three
hours ago.
3. Anne may/could/might be outside working in the garden, but I'm really not sure.
4. If you feel awful but don't have a cold, you may/could/might have allergies.
5. That animal looks like a dog, but it's not; it may/could/might be a coyote.
Now use the negative form.
6. Danny isn't/must not be hungry, I asked him to eat with us if he wanted to.
7. The museum isn't/must not be closed. It closes at 5:00 and it's only 4:30.
8. He only moved here a week ago, so he doesn't know/ must not know/ couldn't know/
can't know anyone yet.
9. Bob gets off work at 5:00, so 6:00 may/might not be too early for dinner.
10. Thirty minutes isn't/can't be enough time to get there; it takes at least 40 minutes.

TOPIC 2: Degrees of Certainty in the Past Tense

Use the simple past-tense form when you are 100 percent certain.

Terrence was home last night. (I called him and talked to him.)
Dennis ate a big salad for lunch. (I saw him eat it.)

Use must have + participle when you are almost certain.

Karen must have been hungry. (She ate three eggs for breakfast.)
You must have had a good time. (You look happy.)

When you are less than 50 percent certain, use may have + participle, might
have + participle or could have + participle.
Ken may have been at work yesterday. (He wasn't at home, but it's possible he was
somewhere else.)
June might have taken the bus to work. (She didn't take her car, but maybe she walked.)
Leslie could have driven June to work. (It's possible that she did.)

To express a negative certainty in the past tense, use the negative past
tense.
Terrence wasn't at home last night. (I saw him at the baseball game.)
Use couldn't have + participle or can't have + participle when you are very
close to sure.
Karen couldn't have been hungry. (She ate very little.)
Denny can't have had a good time last night. (He was sick all night and looked miserable.)

For less than 50 percent certainty use may not have + participle or might not
have + participle.
They may not have eaten before they left. (There's a lot of food left over, and no dishes.)
He might not have arrived yet. (The bus he takes is often late.)

PRACTICE EXERCISE 2: Fill in each blank with the verb form that
expresses the appropriate amount of certainty in the past. First use the
positive.

1. I know my son was in school yesterday because I took him there.

2. Bill must have left work early because no one saw him in the meeting at 3.30.
3. John and Frank may/might/could have been at the beach yesterday, but I'm not sure.
4. That movie may/might/could have been awful, but I haven't read any reviews yet.
5. Henry may/might/could have spent the day taking photographs, since that's his hobby.
Now use the negative.
6. David wasn't at the party; no one saw him there at all.
7. They must not have run in the park this morning, since the weather was so awful.
8. Janet must not/could not/ cannot have gotten the letter yet, since we haven't heard from her.
9. Larry must not have felt better, because he ate almost none of his dinner.
10. The Roundtrees must not have left for vacation, because their car is still here

TOPIC 3: Degrees of Certainty in the Future Tense

When you are absolutely certain that something will happen, use the simple
future tense.

Ralph will finish his PhD next June. (There is no reason to doubt it.)

If you are a little less certain, use should + verb or ought to + verb .
Ralph should finish his PhD next June. (Unless something interferes.)
Venus ought to win first place. (I think her painting is the best, but someone else may
disagree.)
When you are much less certain, use may + verb, might + verb or
could + verb.
Kevin may take off from work tomorrow. (If he thinks he can afford to do that.)
Calixte and Jay might go to the beach tomorrow. (If it's sunny.)
Arend could get a job with National Geographic. (If they like his work.)

To express a negative certainty in the future, use the negative future tense.
Harold won't be home until after 10.00 tonight.
Sophie will not be at work tomorrow.

Many other expressions of negative certainty in the future look very similar
to the present tense.
Keith couldn't be getting out of the hospital tomorrow. (He still seems too weak.)
Troy must not be coming to work today. (He was out sick yesterday, and his office is empty.)
Frederic may not be available next Tuesday. (I don't know his schedule.)
Jessica might not be coming to the party tonight. (She said she wasn't feeling well.)

PRACTICE EXERCISE 3: Fill in each blank with the verb form that
expresses the appropriate amount of certainty in the future. In some cases
you will need to use the negative form.

1. The delivery should/ought to arrive tomorrow, because I had it sent overnight.

2. It's beginning to clear up, it may not/ might not rain later today after all.
3. We may/might/could get some icecream after dinner if everyone is still hungry.
4. I ought to/should speak Spanish well after my month-long trip to Costa Rica.
5. I will visit you next time I come to your city, without fail.
6. We will have to call the plumber if we can't fix the drain ourselves.
7. If you don't study hard enough, you won't do well on your test.
8. I will call you as soon as I get home, I promise.
9. We may not/ might not win tomorrow, because the other team is very good.
10. I may/might/could stop by and pick you up after work tomorrow, but I'm not sure it's
possible yet.