19/2/24, 19:49 Speculation and deduction – modal verbs and expressions - Page 2 of 3 - Test-English

SPECULATION AND DEDUCTION –

MODAL VERBS AND EXPRESSIONS
Grammar » B2 Grammar lessons and exercises » Speculation and deduction – modal verbs and
expressions » Page 2

Exercises Explanation Downloads

Exercises: 1 2 3

Speculation and deduction –

modal verbs and expressions
Exercise 2

Choose the correct options. For each question, choose TWO correct options .

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Check your answers:

1 The supporters were in shock. They _______ their team to lose.

a. definitely didn't expect

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b. definitely won't expect

c. can't have expected
d. must not have expected

➪ In this sentence we are sure that something happened in the past.

➪ We can use must, but NOT must not to express deduction.

2 Your parents _______ fly into a rage when they see the scratch on their car. You took
it without their permission!

a. are bound to
b. are likely
c. probably will
d. will definitely

➪ We can use be bound to or will definitely to say that we are quite sure that
something will be true or happen.

3 Experts say that they _______ their first final ever.

a. bound to win
b. sure to win
c. are likely to win
d. might win

➪ We could also say, 'They are bound to win' or 'They are sure to win.'

4 Rafting down the river in May _______ really exciting.

a. must be
b. is bound to be
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c. probably will be
d. is probably be

➪ We could also say, 'will probably be'.

➪ Probably goes after the auxiliary verb if it's positive, and before it if it's negative.

5 They _______ home before 6. Their train arrives at 5.30, and they live just opposite
the station.

a. will probably be
b. should be
c. can't be
d. are unlikely to be

➪ We use should/ought to + infinitive to talk about a situation that we expect to

happen (present or future).
➪ We can also use probably.
➪ The forms can't be and are unlikely to be are also grammatically correct, but they
don't make sense in this sentence.

6 They _______ straight to the hotel after the restaurant. I was in the room next door
and I didn't hear anything.

a. didn't definitely go
b. definitely didn't go
c. can't go
d. couldn't have gone

➪ When we use definitely or probably with a negative auxiliary verb, they go before
the auxiliary verb.
➪ We can also use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that we are quite sure
that something did NOT happen or was NOT true in the past.

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7 Guests _______ love the views from the terrace.

a. might likely
b. are bound to
c. probably will
d. will definitely

➪ We can say be likely but NOT might likely.

➪ We could say will probably (NOT probably will).

8 According to the police, the escaped prisoner _______ be hiding in the town any
more.

a. might not
b. must not
c. won't definitely
d. is unlikely to

➪ We can use must but NOT must not to express deduction.

➪ Definitely goes after the auxiliary verb if it’s positive, and before it if it’s negative.
➪ We can say definitely won't (NOT won't definitely)

9 He _______ his illness with better eating habits. But now it's too late.

a. must not have prevented

b. might have prevented
c. can have prevented
d. could have prevented

➪ We can use could/might/may have + past participle to say that it's possible that
something was true or happened in the past.

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19/2/24, 19:49 Speculation and deduction – modal verbs and expressions - Page 2 of 3 - Test-English

➪ We can use must, but NOT must not to express deduction.

➪ We can use can't, but NOT can to express deduction.

10 They _______ the battle; they had more soldiers and better equipment, but they lost

a. are sure to win

b. should have won
c. were bound to win
d. can't have won

➪ We need to express past certainty that something would happen.

➪ We use should have + past particle to say that something was supposed or
expected to happen in the past.
➪ We can also use be bound to + infinitive to talk about things that we expect to
happen.

Exercises: 1 2 3

Related tests:

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Past modal verbs of deduction

Likely, unlikely, bound, definitely, probably – probability

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19/2/24, 19:49 Speculation and deduction – modal verbs and expressions - Page 2 of 3 - Test-English

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