2018-06-28 Grammar: past inferences

Greg Malivuk
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http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Homework: finish exercise 5 if you haven’t in class
3 a might not / may not (“I won’t be 100% sure until…” = I’m not sure, so it’s a possibility.)
  b may / might / could
  c must
4 a may/might/could / must
  b may/might/could
  c may/might/could
  d can’t/couldn’t/shouldn’t
  e must not / can’t
5 a must
  b couldn’t/can’t (more likely: couldn’t/can’t have just disappeared)
  c should / may/might/could
  d may/might/could
6 a must not
  b must
7 a should (or “will” - This is a prediction, not an inference about the present.)
  b may/might/could
  c must not
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perfect = [have] + past participle
- It always means something like “past” or “before”.
modal + have + past participle = speculation and inferences about the past
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p. 265 exercise 8 - Complete paragraphs 1 and 2 with the correct modal forms.
1 a can’t have been / couldn’t have been
  b may/might/could have been
  c must have been
2 a should have had / must have had
  b might have been able to lend / could have lent
  c might/could have paid (NOT “may”, because “may” is only for real situations, and you weren’t there so his paying for you wasn’t a real possibility)
  d must have been
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“may” is for real possibilities, “might” and “could” can be real or unreal

I wish I’d bought a ticket. I could have won. / I might have won. (unreal)
Help me find my ticket. I could have won. / I might have won. / I may have won. (real)
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p. 266 exercise 9 - With your partner, use modals of speculation to explain these situations in the present or past. (Think of possible or probable explanations.)
1 It might be funny.
2 She might be waiting for someone.
3 He must have recovered from an illness.
4 They must have been looking for treasure.
5 She could have read some bad news.
6 She could want a raise.
7 He must not have enough money.
8 They must have received a call from that house.
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Homework (optional): finish p. 265-266 exercise 8