Erlan Aguilar Hernández

Degrees of certainty (PAST TIME-affirmative)

Use: might/may/could have + PP if you’re thinking of possibilities why the following things happened and
must have + PP if you’re almost sure.

Example:

Veronica joined the meeting at about 8.30 last Friday. Why?

She may have taken a nap and overslept, or her daughter could’ve kept her really busy, or she
might have been watching her favorite TV show, or she could’ve been cooking, or she ………………..(about
50%) sure

OR, if you know Veronica very well: She must have.................................................... (about 95% sure)

1. (name) kept her phone off all day last Sunday, so I couldn’t get in touch with her. Why do you think that
was?

2. (name) didn’t submit the second e-campus assignment. What do you think the reason was?

3. (name) couldn’t stop smiling when the teacher asked him how he was in last Friday’s meeting. What
do you suppose happened?

4. The teacher dropped out of Med school twenty years ago. Think of possible reasons.

5. (name) did not participate at all in last Friday’s class. Why do you think that was?

Think of as many possibilities as you can for each situation. Run out of ideas.