What Could It Be? The Language of Speculation

Look at the photo above. What is it?

It could be a DVD player.

It might be back of a new sports car.

It can't be a DVD player. 

It may be a radio.

It must be a smartphone. 

Please continue for the answer.

 It is a smartphone; a Nexus 5 smartphone to be exact.

If we aren't 100% sure what something is, we often speculate (i.e., guess).  Let's look at the chart below.

The words above are called "modals of speculation" (or deduction). How people use and understand these words can be different. Below is a basic guideline (not rules) on how to use them.


It is smartphone = 100% sure it's a smartphone.

It must be a smartphone = 95% sure it's a smartphone

It may be a radio = 50% sure it's a smartphone

It might be back of a new sports car = 40% sure it's a smartphone (but less likely)

It could be a DVD player = it's possible that it's a smartphone (but not very likely)

It can't be a DVD player = 100% sure it's not a smartphone.


Note: may and might are usually understood to be the same by most native English speakers. However, might (grammatically) means that there's less certainty about something. 

Grammar

       It                                  may                      be          a radio

Subject pronoun  + modal of speculation + is/are/be + noun

 If you're speculating about a past event:

                   It                                    might                   have  been                                a new sports car.

Subject pronoun or noun + modal of speculation + past participle (usually "been") + noun

Exercises

Look at the images. Complete the sentences with a modal of speculation you think is best. 

Don't worry about having the "right" answer. The goal is to use the language and grammar correctly.


1/ 

They ____ be pencils.




2/ 

It ____ be a woolen sweater.



3/

It ____ be steak.


 Questions 4 and 5: Write your best guess.



4/

It's/They're ________________________________


5/

It's/They're _________________________________



Try ESL Tower's exercise  (using can't have and must have). Be sure to scroll down.

Writing Exercise

Look at the photo. Then answer the questions using modals of speculation.

Again, don't worry about having the "correct" answer.

1/The older man wearing sun glasses is__

a) a retired boxer

b) a politician

c) an old gangster

d) an actor

Please explain your answer. 


2/ Why did he choke the younger man wearing the knit cap?

For extra study, here's the British Council's review of modal's of deduction.