Lesson 1: Modals of Deduction (Present & Past)
Welcome to B2 Grammar! In professional environments, we rarely have 100% of the facts. We must often look at the evidence in front of us and make an educated guess. To do this, we use Modals of Deduction . Whether you are figuring out why a flight was delayed or guessing who left their coat in the meeting room, you will use words like must , might , and can't . Let's look at how to use these accurately in both the present and the past. Key Structures: Must be (Present) - Use when you are 99% sure something is true. Can't be (Present) - Use when you are 99% sure something is false/impossible. Might be (Present) - Use when you are 50% sure (it is possible). Must have been (Past) - Use when you are 99% sure something was true in the past. Can't have been (Past) - Use when you are 99% sure something was false in the past. Might have been (Past) - Use when you are 50% sure something happened in the past. Advanced Grammar Tip When making deductions about the past, a common mistake is sayi…
