The English LanguageThe English Language

2014Novi Sad

MODAL VERBS of certainty MODAL VERBS of certainty (in the present)(in the present)

• MUST

Look at her grey hair! She looks so old. She must be over 50.

(MORA DA JE...)

• CANNOT/COULD NOT

You have just eaten! You cannot/could not be hungry.

(NEMOGUĆE DA JE...)

• MAY

I am saving money for my summer vacation. I may go to Spain.

(MOŽDA...)

• MIGHT

John does not have much time these days, but he might come.

(MOGUĆE...)

MODAL VERBS of MODAL VERBS of possibilitypossibility (in the present)(in the present)

• COULD

It is rather cold. It could rain later.

(MOGLO BI...)

!NBMAY & MIGHT can take negative forms when expressingpossibility ( CAN & COULD + NOT express certainty)

MODAL VERBS of MODAL VERBS of possibilitypossibility (in the present)(in the present)

e.g.

Anne is as white as a sheet. She may not be very well.

(MOŽDA...NE...)

Tell him not to wait, because I might not be back on time.

(MOGUĆE...NE...)

MODAL VERBS of MODAL VERBS of possibilitypossibility (in the present)(in the present)

MODAL VERBS of MODAL VERBS of certaintycertainty (in the p(in the pastast))

• MUST + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (-ed/3rd Column)

You look so exhausted. The exams you took yesterday must have been very difficult.

(MORA DA JE BILO...)

• COULD NOT + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

She was in Rome last week. She could not have seen the Eiffel tower there. (NEMOGUĆE DA JE BILO...)

MODAL VERBS of MODAL VERBS of possibilitypossibility (in the p(in the pastast))

• MAY/MIGHT/COULD + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

I usually take my phone in my bag, but I might have left it on my desk last night.

(MOGUĆE JE DA JE BILO...)

!NBMAY & MIGHT can take negative forms when expressingpossibility ( COULD + NOT expresses certainty)