![[C-C+] Possibility and Certainty in the Past](https://images.ctfassets.net/r30ratzbtbbf/61mZ7I8Bxpr3pdJ7wRTI4X/2829ea7abd529a67abd8fe55e4a49455/Possibility_and_Certainty_in_the_past.png)
LET'S READ! 📖
Direction: Read the short passages then answer the questions being asked.
QUESTIONS:
1. Where can we find the Great Sphinx?
2. Why don't the scientist believe that it was Khafre's face on the Great Sphinx?
LET'S UNDERSTAND! 📚
Possibility and Certainty in the past
- Use must have + past participle to say that you think something in the past was certain or very probable.
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You must have mistaken my intentions.
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You must have found my attitude annoying.
Example:
- The negative of must have is can't have or couldn't have.
Use can't have or couldn't have + past participle to say that you think something in the past was not possible or did not happen.
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He can't have slept through all that noise.
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I couldn't have made it through my bad times without the support of my family.
Example:
- Use may have or might have + past participle to say that you think something in the past was possible.
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The promise of lower taxation may have been just an election gimmick to gain votes.
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He acknowledged publicly that he might have made a mistake.
Example:
- Use might have or could have + past participle NOT USUALLY may have to say that something in the past was possible, but did not happen.
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The accident could have been much worse; luckily no harm was done.
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The medicine might have helped him if only he'd taken them regularly.
Example:
LET'S PRACTICE! 📝
Direction: Think of a past encounter or experience that was unusual or unexpected. Use modal verbs of possibility and certainty to describe the event. Share the story with your mentor, emphasizing the uncertain or surprising aspects using modal verbs in the past tense.
