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    Past Speculation

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    Dennis Paredes
    The document discusses speculating about past events using modal verbs like "must have", "could have", and "might have". It explains that these modal verbs are used to express varying degrees of certainty about events in the past that are not known for sure. "Must have" indicates near certainty, "could have" and "might have" indicate less certainty, and modifying forms like "couldn't have" and "might not have" are used to speculate about events that were impossible or unlikely. A few examples are provided to illustrate speculating about past situations and the modal verbs that would be used depending on the level of certainty.

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    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd

    Past Speculation

    Uploaded by

    Dennis Paredes
    812 views2 pages
    The document discusses speculating about past events using modal verbs like "must have", "could have", and "might have". It explains that these modal verbs are used to express varying degrees of certainty about events in the past that are not known for sure. "Must have" indicates near certainty, "could have" and "might have" indicate less certainty, and modifying forms like "couldn't have" and "might not have" are used to speculate about events that were impossible or unlikely. A few examples are provided to illustrate speculating about past situations and the modal verbs that would be used depending on the level of certainty.

    Original Description:

    How to make past speculation

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    The document discusses speculating about past events using modal verbs like "must have", "could have", and "might have". It explains that these modal verbs are used to express varying degrees of certainty about events in the past that are not known for sure. "Must have" indicates near certainty, "could have" and "might have" indicate less certainty, and modifying forms like "couldn't have" and "might not have" are used to speculate about events that were impossible or unlikely. A few examples are provided to illustrate speculating about past situations and the modal verbs that would be used depending on the level of certainty.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    812 views2 pages

    Past Speculation

    Uploaded by

    Dennis Paredes
    The document discusses speculating about past events using modal verbs like "must have", "could have", and "might have". It explains that these modal verbs are used to express varying degrees of certainty about events in the past that are not known for sure. "Must have" indicates near certainty, "could have" and "might have" indicate less certainty, and modifying forms like "couldn't have" and "might not have" are used to speculate about events that were impossible or unlikely. A few examples are provided to illustrate speculating about past situations and the modal verbs that would be used depending on the level of certainty.

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    Speculating about past events

    'It must have been a UFO.'


    Imagine that you go to your friend's house, but when you knock on her door there is no
    answer. You then notice that her car is not there, so the conclusion you come to is that
    she must have gone out.

    Let's take a look at that last part again: she must have gone out (must + have + past
    participle)

    This form is used when we are speculating about past events i.e. we don't know for sure
    what happened, but have an idea.
    In the above sentence must is a modal auxiliary verb which shows we are pretty sure
    about what happened. If we are not so sure, we use 'She could have gone out' or 'She
    might have gone out'.

    Let's look at some other examples:

    • 'Paul looks tired, he must have been out late last night.'
    • 'I could have won the race if I had trained harder.'
    • 'He might have gotten really sick if he hadn't started taking care of his
    health.'
    • 'She may have taken the day off, because I haven't seen her today.
    • 'I saw a strange light in the sky last night. It could have been a UFO!'
    Modal Verbs: Speculating about past events

    1. SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE PAST


    100 % certain
    Affirmative Negative
    We often speculate, or make “best
    guesses”, about past situations
    Must have Can’t have
    based on facts that we have. The
    Had to have Couldn’t have
    modal that we choose depends on
    May have Must not have
    how certain we are about our
    Might have May not have
    speculation.
    Could have Might not have
    0% certain

    The statues are very big.


    When you are almost 100 percent Speculation
    certain that something was possible,
    use must have or had to have. · They must have been hard
    to move.
    The islanders were able to
    carve the stone.
    When you are less certain, use may Speculation
    have, might have, or could have.
    · The stone may have been
    quite soft.

    When you are almost 100


    percent certain that
    · The islanders couldn’t have moved
    something was
    the stone! It was too heavy.
    impossible, use can’t
    have or couldn’t have.
    When you are slightly less · They must not have moved it
    certain, use must not. without help.
    Use may not have or · The islanders might not have
    might not have when you moved the statues over land. They
    are less certain. could have used boats.

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