“Modal
Auxiliaries : Expressing Present and Past Possibility and Probability with Must
and Must Have”
1.
Expressing Present Possibility
In affirmative and negative statements, may (have), might
(have), could (have) express possibility. All mean “Possibly” or “Perhaps”.
a.
May
Structure : may
(not) + simple form.
-
May shows possibility
in the present.
Example :
Where my
keys? They may be in the car.
-
May is formal and
is often found in writing , like this example :
Side effects of
this medication may include upset stomach and fever.
b.
Might
Structure : might
(not) + simple form
-
Possibility in the
present
Example
:
Where are my keys? They might be in the
car.
-
Might is less
formal than may, and is more common in conversation.
c.
Could
Structure : Could
(not) + simple form
-
Possible in the
present
Example :
Where are my keys? They could be in the
car
-
Could shows options
or possibility
-
2.
Expressing Past Possibility
May, Might, and Could are all used to show possibility in
the past.
Structure : Modal
verb + have + past participle
Example :
-
He might have
brought the cake
-
She may have gone
home early
-
They could have
worked late
3.
Expressing Probability with must and must have
Using must plus the verb when you are almost 100 percent
sure that something is the case.
Present : must + simple form
Example :
-
They must be in
Spain by now. They told me they were going last week.
-
Jack must think I
am crazy I think grammar is easy.
Past : must have + past participle
Example :
-
She must have done
well on the test
-
Alice must have
asked for some help on the test
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