Topics

Present

Past

Past to Present

Future

Abilities - Responsibilities

Asking Questions

Choosing the Right Phrase

Combining Verbs

Explaining Ideas

Describing Your World

Complex Ideas

Relating Ideas, People, Objects

Speaking about Objects

Wondering about Situations

What Is Probably True

Modal Verbs of Probability - Present

Modal verbs of probability express an opinion based on what a speaker knows about a situation at the moment of speaking. The following forms are used to speak about present situations.

Example:

Bob might be able to find a job in silicon valley.

I must be trained to use the shell effectively.

Josh might be able to salvage the kernel.

Present Forms

'Must' plus the verb expresses the idea that you are almost 100% sure of your opinion about a given situation.

Subject + must + base form of verb + objects

Example:

I must be trained to use the shell effectively.

They must be looking for a shortcut.

Use 'might' or 'could' to express an opinion that you think has a good possibility of being true.

Subject + might / could + base form of verb + objects

Example:

Josh might be able to salvage the kernel.

Jane Fonda might be willing to market our killer app.

'Can't' plus the verb expresses the idea that you are almost 100% sure that something is not true.

Subject + can't + base form of verb + objects

Example:

The boss can't be serious about using a sniffer program to monitor internet use on site.

A laptop can't be replaced by an iPod or iPad.