Modal verbs (certainty)

  1. We use 'must' to say that we are sure about something in the present or past
  • That must be the new teacher (present)
  • He must have been asleep because he didn't hear the phone ringing (past)
  1. We use 'can't' or 'couldn't' in negative sentences
  • That can't be your mom... she looks so young! (present)
  • He couldn't have forgotten about it, I just told him this morning (past)
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