SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Let's recap! In the last unit we talked about speculating (guessing) about the present. These are the modal verbs we use: must I am certain it's true. sigurno je can't I am certain it's not true. sigurno nije may, could, might Perhaps it's true. možda je may not, might not Perhaps it's not true. možda nije Watch the video carefully to find out how we speculate about the past, guess what happened in the past. Read the grammar explanation and copy it in your notebook. must haveWe use must have + past participle when we feel sure about what happened.Examples:Who told the newspapers about the prime minister's plans? It must have been someone close to him.The thief must have had a key. The door was locked and nothing was broken.Oh, good! We've got milk. Mo must have bought some yesterday.might have / may haveWe can use might have or may have + past participle when we think it's possible that something happened.Examples:I think I might have left the air conditioning on. Please can you check?Police think the suspect may have left the country using a fake passport.May have is more formal than might have. Could have is also possible in this context but less common.can't have / couldn't haveWe use can't have and couldn't have + past participle when we think it's not possible that something happened.Examples:She can't have driven there. Her car keys are still here.I thought I saw Adnan this morning but it couldn't have been him – he's in Greece this week. Read the sentences. Match them with the uses. There may be over 250 million working children worldwide. speculation about the present Our master musst have thought that Iqbal was a helpless child. speculation about the past Choose the correct option to complete the sentences. 1. Where's Clare? Her bag's here and her computer's still on so she _ gone home. must have might have can't have 2. I can't remember my password! But I _ written it in my notebook as sometimes I do that. must have may have couldn't have 3. He wasn't answering the phone before. Maybe he went to the shop or he _ been in the shower. must have might have couldn't have 4. Sorry, I don't know if she's here or not. She was feeling ill so she _ gone home. must have might have can't have 5. She _ cleaned the whole house on her own in two hours. She must have had some help. must have might have can't have 6. Wow! Have you finished all that already? You _ been hungry! must have may have can't have 7. He _ known about it when I saw him. I'm sure he would have told me. must have might have couldn't have 8. Oh, great! His car's here. He _ come home earlier than planned. must have might have can have Match the sentences with the best paraphrases. 1. He can't have made a mistake. Maybe he didn't make a mistake. I'm certain that he didn't make a mistake 2. He must have worked in a carpet factory. I'm sure he works in a carpet factory. I'm sure he worked in a carpet factory. 3. The children may have escaped from slavery. Perhaps the children escaped from slavery. The children certainly escaped from slavery. Use the cues to complete the sentences. 1. Iqbal sneaked into carpet factory many times.He must have been clever. (must / be clever)2. A factory manager has been arrested.Hemay have employed children in his factory. (may / emloy children in his factory)3. A girl was selling snacks in the street.She can't have been born into a rich family. (can't / be born into a rich family)4. The child disappeared from the street.The carpet mafia may have kidnapped her. (may / kidnap her)5. This carpet is beautiful.It must have taken a lot of time to make it. (must / take a lot of time to make it) Rewrite the sentences using the modal verb in brackets and the Past Perfect. 1. Perhaps the children didn't eat anything since morning. (may not)The children may not have eaten anything since morning.2. I'm sure the children were very young. (must)The children must have been very young.3. Maybe he stole something in the market. (could)He could have stolen something in the market.4. I'm certain the girl did not receive any education. (can't)The girl can't have received any education.5. It's possible that the boy's parents sold him into slavery. (might)The boy's parents might have sold him into slavery.6. It's certain that the children's parents were very poor. (must)The children's parents must have been very poor. Use the cues and must and have + the 3rd form of the verb to make sentences about Iqbal. have a lot of couragebe weakhave a rich familybe intelligenthate his situationdream about freedomplan his escape for a long timego to school Credits:Pearson Choices Intermediatelearnenglish.britishcouncil.orgDaniel Byrnes - Free English Lessons