B2
Modals for Speculation
ការប្រើប្រាស់កិរិយាសព្ទជំនួយដើម្បីស្មាន
🎯 Objective / គោលបំណង:
Stop saying "I think..." Start using logic like a detective. Deduce facts from evidence.
💬 Scenario: The Missing Colleague
Sophea
"Where is John? He's not at his desk, but his computer is on."
Dara
"Well, his coffee is still hot. He must be somewhere in the building."
💡 Clue: Hot coffee = High certainty he is near.
Sophea
"Could he be at lunch?"
Dara
"No, it's only 10 AM. He can't be at lunch."
💡 Clue: Wrong time = High certainty it's impossible.
Sophea
"Wait, I see a missed call from his wife on his screen."
Dara
"Ah. He might have gone outside to take the call."
💡 Clue: Possibility, not fact. (Past tense).
The Scale of Certainty
[Image of modal verbs of probability scale]Must be ប្រាកដជា...
90-100% Sure (You have evidence).
Ex: "He has a Ferrari. He must be rich."
Might / Could / May be អាចនឹង...
50% Sure (It's possible).
Ex: "He's not here. He might be sick."
Can't be មិនអាច...
90-100% Sure it's IMPOSSIBLE.
Ex: "He just ate. He can't be hungry."
Past Tense Formula
MODAL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (V3)
"He must have left." (Past)
"He can't have seen me." (Past)
Solve the Mystery
Clue: "The streets are completely wet, but the sky is blue now."
What happened?
A. "It must have rained earlier."
B. "It must rain."
C. "It can't have rained."
Clue: "Someone is knocking at the door. I'm not expecting anyone."
Who is it?
A. "It must be the postman." (Too sure?)
B. "It could be the postman." (Possible)