1. Match the beginning of each sentence with the most suitable ending.
1) You must have met some fascinating people 2) You must know Tokyo is expensive 3) You can’t have lived in Tunisia for ten years 4) You can’t be tired 5) You must be exhausted 6) You may find it difficult to settle down 7) You couldn’t have gone on a big holiday 8) You might think about going to Spain 9) You could take a taxi |
a after all your hard work. b for your next holiday. c because you’ve lived there. d during your trip to Africa. e when you’ve just had a nap. f without learning some Arabic. g to the airport tomorrow. h because you had no money. i after travelling around the world for years. |
Show answers
1) d 2) c 3) f 4) e 5) a 6) i 7) h 8) b 9) g
2. Complete the email with the words from the box.
could be coming could have fallen couldn’t have left
may be seeing may be visiting may have found may have left
From: Robin Nicholas
To: Helena Shakespeare
Subject: Seeing you again
Hi Helena,
Thanks for your email.
It was good to see you last week and show you our research facilities here. Sorry to hear you lost your phone on the journey home. I’ve looked for it, but it definitely isn’t in our office. I think you (1) __may have left __ it on the train. Why not phone the lost property office? It (2) ______________ down the side of your seat. Someone (3) ______________ it and handed it in. Anyway, as far as I remember, you (4) ______________ it here, because you were
using a map on your phone to get to the station.
And now news. Guess what? I (5) ______________ to your part of the world next month for a conference! professor wanted to attend it, but now he’s heard that some important scientists (6) ______________ our laboratory at that time. So, you and I (7) ______________ each other sooner than we expected. I’ll email as soon as I know for certain.
All the best,
Robin
Show answers
2) could have fallen 3) may have found
4) couldn’t have left 5) could be coming
6) may be visiting 7) may be seeing
3. Choose the correct alternative.
1) You must be / can’t be very proud of your daughter winning the race.
2) I expected boyfriend to call after work last night, but he didn’t. I suppose he must be / must have been too tired.
3) That group is so famous now, it must be / can’t be easy to get tickets to see them perform.
4) I’m sure we can get online here if we try. We must be using / can’t be using the right password.
5) I’ve just rung the garage to check whether they’ve fixed car, but I can’t get an answer. I suppose they may have / may be having a break in the yard.
6) I don’t know why you wanted to stay at that party. You might have enjoyed / can’t have enjoyed talking to all those boring people.
7) I can’t go out now. We’re getting a new TV and the store may be delivering / must be delivering it this morning.
8) Please check these figures again. They’re not accurate. You might have been concentrating / can’t have been concentrating when you added them up.
9) You must be / must have been thirsty after playing tennis all afternoon. Shall I get you a drink?
Show answers
2) must have been 3) can’t be
4) can’t be using 5) may be having
6) can’t have enjoyed
7) may be delivering
8) can’t have been concentrating
9) must be
4. Complete the answers with must, can’t or might and any other words you need.
1) GREG: Who’s calling at this hour? It’s gone midnight!
HELEN: It __might be __ James. He said he’d phone if he passed his exam.
2) JIM: There’s a light on in that office block. Do you think it’s a thief?
HARRY: It __must be __ the cleaners. They always work at night.
3) WILL: What are we having for Sunday dinner?
TESSA: It ________ chicken. Mum often does chicken on Sundays.
4) CLARE: Is that your daughter’s coat?
FIONA: No, it ________ hers. It’s much too big.
5) ANDY: Where did I put shopping bags? I can’t remember.
JANE: They ________ the car. You often leave them there.
6) ELLIE: Where did Adam get that new guitar? He hasn’t got any money.
KATE: It ________ a present. After all, it was his birthday last week.
7) NICKY: Why did Mina ignore me at the party last night?
RYAN: She ________ you. She wasn’t wearing her glasses.
8) EMMA: Do you think Cindy told the boss I left work early yesterday?
NEIL: She’s away this week, so she ________ him.
9) JILL: What’s making me feel so ill?
EVA: It ________ ate. Did you have seafood last night? That sometimes makes people ill.
Show answers
Example answers:
3) might be 4) can’t be
5) might be in 6) must have been
7) might not have seen
8) can’t have told
9) might be something you