Past Modal Verbs of Deduction (Speaking)

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Past Modal Verbs of Deduction (Speaking)

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Copyright 2009 Photocopiable

A. Read your sentences to your partner. B. Listen to your partner's sentences and convert the language into modal + have + past participle. Ralph definitely wasn't at the party yesterday as he's in China! (Ralph couldn't have been at the party) HIV possibly crossed over from Chimpanzees to humans somehow. (HIV may/might/could have crossed over...) Life in Medieval Europe was surely very grim. (Life in Medieval Europe must have been very grim) Gerry said he fought in the War but was born in 1940. (He can't have fought in the War) Aunt Joan's hair turned a frightening white over night. Why? (She may/might/could have seen a ghost) Many people who ate the restaurant's steak got food poisoning. Why? (The steak can't have been cooked properly) Surely life wasn't interesting before the introduction of the tomato and potato! (Life can't have been interesting before...) The driver drove into a tree in the middle of the night on a straight road. Why? (He must have fallen asleep) It was quite possible that George III had terrible dementia. (George III may/might/could have had terrible dementia) I don't know if the moon landing of 1969 was real or filmed in a studio! (The moon landing may/might/could have been faked) A clash of personalities probably caused the break up of the Beatles. (A clash of personalities must have caused...) handouthub

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A. Listen to your partner's sentences and convert the language into modal + have + past participle. B. Read your sentences to your partner. Surely it was difficult for Captain Scott to see his friends die in the Antarctic. (It must have been difficult for Captain...) It was common for drivers to die in races in Formula 1 in the 1970s. (Drivers could/may/might have died in...) Richey Edwards has been missing for over ten years he probably killed himself. (Richey Edwards must have killed himself) The man lying on the beach hasn't moved for 30 minutes. (He must have fallen asleep) Angela rarely misses meetings but I saw her at the Chemist's yesterday buying cough medicine. Why? (She must have been ill yesterday) Yesterday was a national holiday, but Bruce came into work for some reason. Why? (He may/might/could have had work to do) No one knows if Michael Jackson really was guilty of child abuse. (He may/might/could have been guilty...) When I checked this morning there were 22 prisoners now there are only nineteen. What happened? (Three must have escaped) If Elvis Presley hadn't died people would recognise him today. (He must have died) We aren't sure one of the Romanov children survived the Russian Revolution. (One of the Romanov children may/might/could have survived...) There is absolutely no evidence dragons really existed as living creatures. (Dragons can't have existed) handouthub

Past Modal Verbs of Deduction (Speaking)

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Activity Instructions
Language Focus: Vocabulary Focus: Level: Skill: Time: Organisation: Stage: Suggested Method: Past modal verbs of deduction; must/may/might/could/can't have + past participle Unspecific Advanced Speaking 20 minutes Students work in pairs Controlled grammar speaking practice

Copy one sheet per pair of students, and cut the sheets up into A and B. Put the students into pairs with an A and B student, and distribute the worksheets. Focus students' attention on the instructions and make sure they aren't looking at each other's sheets. Explain to students they must read their short passages to their partner, who each time responds with the appropriate phrase using a past modal verb of deduction (must have, may have, can't have + past participle). Encourage students not to give away the answers and instead until they reach the correct answer. Monitor the students, providing language input or error correction when necessary. Finally, draw to their attention any appropriate vocabulary or serious language mistakes.

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