WISH AND IF ONLY
We use it when we want to express a
desire for something to change their
behaviour because:
Annoyance or complaints
I wish you would stop chewing
with your mouth open!
Deductions in the present
• Must and Can’t
We use them to express
CERTAINTY
Eg: Tom must be tired after his long journey.
(I’m 100% sure that he is)
Eg: That can’t be Sue. She is in Brazil.
(I’m 100% sure it is not possible)
Deductions in the present
• May, might and could
We use them to express
UNCERTAINTY or POSSIBLITY
Eg: I might go out, I don’t know. I could get wet.
(Not really sure, 50% of probability, maybe less)
CRIMINAL - BURGLAR
CRIME - BURGLARLY
VERB - BURGLAR
CRIMINAL - PICKPOCKETER
CRIME - PICKPOCKET
CRIMINAL - ROBBER
CRIME - ROBBERY
CRIMINAL - SHOPLIFTER
CRIME - SHOPLIFTING
CRIMINAL - VANDAL
CRIME - VANDALISM
Deductions in the PAST
• Must have and Can’t have
We use them to express
CERTAINTY in the past
Eg: Tom must have left his wallet in the car. I saw him coming out of it.
(I’m 100% sure that he did)
Eg: Jim can’t have noticed you. He was talking to the boss.
(I’m 100% sure that he didn’t)
Deductions in the PAST
• May have, might have and could have
We use them to express
UNCERTAINTY or POSSIBLITY
in the past
Eg: Jean might have missed out the train. (perhaps she did)
Eg: She may have taken a later train. (perhaps she did)
Eg: You could have been killed. (It was a possibility)