Level: B2

PAST MODALS OF DEDUCTION II

WRITE A SUITABLE ANSWER

1. Nobody knows exactly why he died. But we think it _____ been an accident.
2. I _____ revised more for the exam. I was lazy, and now I'll fail!
3. Sarah looked very happy. She _____ passed her driving test.
4. I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You _____ told me!
5. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He _____ taken the wrong train.
6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He _____ taken the correct train.
7. You _____ been ill yesterday. Jessie saw you at the bowling alley.
8. I don't know where they went but they _____ gone to Paris or Marseille.
9. You _____ paid more attention. Now we are lost.
10. The window was broken, so the thieves _____ got in through that window.

CHOOSE A SUITABLE ANSWER

1. I'm sorry but Mr. Banks isn't here. He _______ left.

a. can't have
b. might have
c. must have
d. should have

2. We really enjoyed the movie. You _______ come with us.

a. might have
b. can't have
c. must have
d. should have

3. They _______ bought a new house. They are both unemployed.

a. can't have
b. might not have
c. mustn't have
d. could have

4. He studied nothing and passed the exam, so he ________ cheated.

a. can have
b. must have
c. ought to have
d. might have
Level: B2

5. My car isn't there anymore! It _______ stolen while I was shopping.

a. couldn't have been

b. should have been
c. mustn't have been
d. might have been

6. My car isn't there any more! It _______ stolen while I was shopping.

a. couldn't have been

b. should have been
c. mustn't have been
d. might have been

7. You _______ broke up with her; she was perfect for you.

a. shouldn't have
b. couldn't have
c. mustn't have
d. might have

8. He _______ killed him, but we need more evidence.

a. can have
b. must have
c. might have
d. should have

9. Alex _______ studied very hard, because she got top marks in all the exams.

a. can't have
b. might have
c. should have
d. must have

10. 'I can't find my keys.' 'Have you checked in your car. You _______ left them there.'

a. can't have
b. might have
c. should have
d. can have

11. We _______ bought enough beer for the party.

a. shouldn't have
b. must not have
Level: B2

c. ought not have

d. may not have
Level: B2

ANSWERS
WRITE A SUITABLE ANSWER
1. Correct answer: might have

➪ We can use might/may have + past participle to talk about something that perhaps
happened or was true.

➪ We can use can't but not can as a modal verb of deduction.

➪ It might have been an accident= Maybe it was an accident.

2. Correct answer: should have

➪ We can use should have + past participle to talk about a situation that we expected to
happen in the past, but it didn't.

➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

3. Correct answer: must have

➪ We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that something was true
or happened in the past.

➪ She must have passed her diriving test= I'm sure she passed.

4. Correct answer: should have

➪ We can use should have + past participle to talk about a situation that we expected to
happen in the past, but it didn’t.

➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

5. Correct answer: must have

➪ We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that something was true
or happened in the past.

➪ She must have taken the wrong train= I’m sure she took the wrong train.

6. Correct answer: can't have

➪ We can use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that
something did NOT happen or was NOT true in the past.

➪ He can't have taken the correct train.= I'm quite sure he didn't take the correct train.

7. Correct answer: couldn't have

➪ We can use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that
something did NOT happen or was NOT true in the past.
Level: B2

➪ You couldn't have been ill.= I'm quite sure you weren't ill.

➪ We can use must but not mustn't as a modal verb of deduction.

8. Correct answer: could have

➪ We can use could/might/may have + past participle to talk about something that perhaps
happened or was true.

➪ They could have gone to Paris or Marseille.= Perhaps they went Paris or Marseille.

➪ We can use can't but not can as a modal verb of deduction.

9. Correct answer: ought to have

➪ We can use should/ought to have + past participle to talk about a situation that we expected
to happen in the past, but it didn’t.

➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

10. Correct answer: must have

➪ We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that something was true
or happened in the past.

➪ The thieves must have got in through that window.= I'm quite sure the thieves got in through
that window.

CHOOSE A SUITABLE ANSWER

1. C. must have → We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite
sure that something was true or happened in the past.
➪ He must have left. = I'm sure he left.

2. D → We can use should/ought to have + past participle to talk about a situation

that we expected to happen in the past, but it didn’t. Or something we expected not to
happen, and it happened.
➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

3. A → We can use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that we are quite
sure that something did NOT happen or was NOT true in the past.
➪ They can’t have bought a new house.= I'm sure they haven't bought a new house.

4. B → We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that
something was true or happened in the past.
➪ He must have cheated. = I'm sure he cheated.

5. D → We can use might/may/could have + past participle to talk about

something that perhaps happened or was true.
Level: B2

➪ It might have been stolen.= Maybe it was stolen.

6. A → We can use should/ought to have + past participle to talk about a situation

that we expected to happen in the past, but it didn’t. Or something we expected not to
happen and it happened.
➪ We often use this form to express criticism.

7. C → We can use might/may/could have + past participle to talk about

something that perhaps happened or was true.
➪ He might have killed him.= Maybe he killed him.

8. D → We can use must have + past participle to say that we are quite sure that
something was true or happened in the past.
➪ Alex must have studied very hard. = I'm sure Alex studied very hard.

9. B → We can use might/may/could have + past participle to talk about something

that perhaps happened or was true.
➪ You might have left them there.= Maybe you left them there.

10. D → We can use might not/may not + past participle to talk about something
that perhaps did not happen or was not true.
➪ We might not have bought enough beer for the party.= Maybe we didn't buy enough beer.