Modals of Probability

Modal Verbs of Probability Exercise

Check through the different uses.

TYPE	USE	MODAL VERBS	EXAMPLE
1	to express possibilities for the future	COULD, MAY, MIGHT	It may rain tomorrow.
2	to express certainty	CAN'T, COULDN'T, MUST	She can't be Irish.
3	for possible explanations	COULD, MAY, MIGHT	She could be Scottish.

Look at the following phrases and write in which type you think they are. Then use one of the modal verbs in brackets to fill the gaps.

1	TYPE 5	They (may/must).......................... be away for the weekend but I'm not sure.
2	5	He (can/could).......................... be French, judging by his accent.
3	5	They (can't/may).......................... still be out!
4	5	With luck, tomorrow (can't/could).......................... be a sunny day.
5	5	You (can/might).......................... be right but I'm going to check anyway.
6	5	The exam (can't/might).......................... be easy. You never know.
7	5	It (may/can't).......................... be true about a sauropod dinosaur living in Lake Telé in the Congo. It's impossible.
8	5	Dave reckons she's from The States but I think she (can't/might).......................... be from Scandinavia.
9	5	I (can't/might).......................... go to the party but I'm not sure yet.
10	5	This (must/could).......................... be the right answer but we'll have to check with your teacher to make sure.
11	5	She (can't/could).......................... steal things from shops. She's rich and famous.
12	5	I really think Real Madrid (can't/could).......................... lose the final of the King's Cup.
13	5	She's been revising 10 hours a day for 3 weeks. She (could/must).......................... be exhausted.
14	5	Nobody's answering. They (can't/must).......................... be out.
15	5	He (can't/may).......................... be from the USA. He doesn't speak English.