Grammar of Class 11 (Unit 14 - Model Auxiliaries)

  Model auxiliaries (may, might, must, can't)

                Deduction and Explanation

Unit-14: Power and Politics (Page 134)

may, might, must, can’t

A. Study the following sentences.

a. She may/might be in France.

b. You've had a long journey. You must be tired.

c. Niraj can't be in Gorkha - I saw him this morning.

 

We use may or might to talk about the possibility of something in the

present or in the future. (with perhaps, possibly, maybe, doubt etc.)

 

We use must and can’t to express certainty in the present. (with sure, certain, convinced, obviously, no doubt etc.)

 

B. Fill in the blanks with may, must or can’t.

a. Matthew …… be at home. I can see his bike in front of his home.

Ans: must

b. They …… be coming tomorrow.

Ans: may

c. She …… speak French very well. She's only lived in Paris for two weeks.

Ans: can't

d. My key is not in my pocket or on my desk so it …… be in the drawer.

Ans: must

e. I saw him yesterday. He …… be abroad.

Ans: can't

f. You got the job? That's great. You …… be very delighted.

Ans: must

g. I …… finish it by tomorrow if I stay at work all night, but I'm not sure.

Ans: may

h. Somebody is knocking on the door. It …… be Sabina – she promised to

come today.

Ans: must

C. Rewrite the following sentences using may/might, must or can’t.

Example: Maybe they went away.

They may/might have gone away.

a.   I’m sure he’s not going to the cinema today.

Ans: He can't be going to the cinema today.

b.   Perhaps she knows the answer.

Ans: She may know the answer.

c.   I’m sure he has a car.

Ans: He must have a car.

d.   I doubt if it rains later on.

Ans: It may rain later on.

e.   Perhaps she wants to be alone.

Ans: She may want to be alone.

f.    I’m sure Harina is in her office.

Ans: Harina must be in her office.