1. could/might/can/may/must + be/V1. could/might/can/may/must + be/V

2. could/might/may/must + have 2. could/might/may/must + have beenbeen//V-enV-en

could/might/can/may/must could/might/can/may/must + be/V+ be/V

Sentence Patterns

1

Examples: 1. Since Robert Frost lived in the country much of his life, he could be a nature lover. 2. Bread might be in aisle 2 and milk in aisle 10. 3. Sometimes the same gesture can mean different things in different countries.

could/might/can/may/must + could/might/can/may/must + be/Vbe/V

Sentence Patterns

1

4. Animals may help people learn about earthquakes. 5. And of course there must be something wrong/In wanting to silence any song.

Now

it’s your

TURN!

Exercise

Exercise A Choose a proper word to complete each of

the following sentences. The first one has been done for you.

1. In this dog-eat-dog world, you (must, may, couldn’t) win or you may lose; no one can always win.

2. I (can’t, might not, mustn’t) be able to see you tonight. I am not sure. I (might, can, couldn’t) have to stay home and work on my paper.

Exercise A

3. Look at that private jet he owns. He (could, might, must) be rich. It is said that he even owns an island! Probably he (must, may, could) also have a yacht.

4. As a newcomer, you (can’t, may not, might) understand this. Let me tell you: don’t ever talk back to your boss. You (can’t, must, can) lose your job for hat.

Exercise A

5. Jack’s cell phone is off. He (must, may, could) be in the movie theater right now. I am not sure about that. But I am very sure the man calling you (can’t, couldn’t, might not) be him.

Sue and Nina are taking a walk. They see a girl across the street. Complete each of the following blanks by using the proper information in the box together with the above pattern. The first blank has been done for you.

Exercise B

S: Hey, Jennifer, over here!

N: Wait. 1That can’t be her. (that/be/her) Jennifer has long hair. That girl’s hair is short.

S: I am sure 2 (it/be/Jennifer). I heard she just had her hair cut.

N: You know, 3 (you/be/right). I saw Jennifer go into the hairdresser’s the other day.

it must be Jennifer

you may be right

S: See the way she walks? 4 (who else/it/be) if not Jennifer ? Hey, Jennifer!

N: You should shout louder, or 5 (she/be able to/hear) Wait a minute. She’s turning around…but that’s not Jennifer! Oh, come on. It’s a guy!

who else could it be

she might/may not be able to hear you

BACK

could/might/may/must + have could/might/may/must + have beenbeen//V-enV-en

Sentence Patterns

2

Examples: 1. The fields are wet. It might have rained heavily last night.2. All the red apples in the trees are gone. The farmer may have picked them.

could/might/may/must + have could/might/may/must + have beenbeen//V-enV-en

Sentence Patterns

2

3. The fallen leaves rustled as the farmer put them in the bag, and the farmer. had fun doing all that. He must have enjoyed making all that noise.4. The farmer said he didn’t have fun doing all that. He could have told a lie.

Now

it’s your

TURN!

Exercise

Exercise A

Use the given words and the above pattern to complete the following dialogues. first one has been done for you.

1. A: Some students are talking their

heads off about their trip to

Kenting last week.

B: They look very excited. They

must have had a good time

(have a good time).

2. A: I didn’t see Kent in the house. Do

you know where he is?

B: I’m not sure. He _________________

________ (leave) already.

could/might/may

have left

3. A: What’s wrong with your pen? It

won’t write.

B: Well, it ________________________

(run out of ink).

must have run out of ink

4. A: Was Larry here yesterday? I saw his

book over there.

B: Maybe. He ______________________

(be) here while we were out.

5. A: Although she is 40 years old, Mrs.

Chung still looks pretty.

B: I bet __________________________

(be/a beauty) when she was young.

must/could/might have been

she must have been a beauty

Exercise B

Match the items on the left with those on the right to make meaningful sentences. The first one has been done for you.

BACK

1. That man looks tired; … 2. Nancy was absent yesterday; … 3. Grandmother has poor

eyesight; … 4. The ground was so wet this morning; … 5. We don’t know which country Jerry went to; …

a. …she must have been sick.b. …it must have rained last

night.c. …he must have been to England.d. …he might have worked for long.e. …he could have gone to England.f. …she couldn’t have seen us last night.

1. d 2. _____ 3. _____ 4. _____ 5. _____a f b e