Modals for speculation and deduction

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Modals for speculation and deduction
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Maria lives near Pico do Jaraguá.

• When youre almost sure of something now
• It must be a very quiet place.
• When you believe something is a possibility now
• It may be a little boring.
• It might be a little boring.
• It could be a little boring.
• When youre almost sure something is impossible
  now
• It cant be noisy there.

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Maria used to live near Paulista Avenue.

• When youre almost sure of some situation in the
  past
• It must have been very noisy there.
• When you believe something was a possibility in
  the past
• It may have been exciting to live there.
• It might have been exciting to live there.
• It could have been exciting to live there.
• When youre almost sure something was impossible
  in the past
• It cant have been very cheap.

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Should can also be used for speculation and
deduction

• I sent a postcard to Germany yesterday. It should
  arrive in two weeks.
• This is what I expect to be happening now, or to
  happen in the future
• Four weeks ago, I sent a postcard to Germany. It
  should have arrived by now.
• This is what I expect to have happened in the
  past.

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Adjectives and adverbs for speculation and
deduction
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When youre almost sure

• Bound to / sure to adj.
• She is sure to know. Shes an expert on that
  subject.
• He is bound to win the fight. Hes much stronger
  and more skilled than his opponent.
• Definitely adv.
• Shell definitely pass the exam. She worked very
  hard.
• She definitely wont pass the exam. She didnt do
  any work at all.

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When its reasonable to expect something

• Likely / unlikely adj.
• Shes likely to be home by 10 p.m. Shes an early
  bird.
• Its likely that she will be home by 10 p.m.
• Shes unlikely to stay out late.
• Its unlikely that she will stay out late.
• Probably adv.
• Shell probably return home before 10 p.m.
• She probably wont stay out late.

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• Probably and definitely adv.
• Go before the main verb in affirmative sentences
  and before the auxiliary in negative sentences
• Shell probably return home before 10 p.m.
• She probably wont stay out late.
• Shell definitely pass the exam. She worked very
  hard.
• She definitely wont pass the exam. She didnt do
  any work at all.
• However, if the main verb is to be, they go after
  it in affirmative sentences and before it in
  negative sentences
• Hes probably British.
• The painting definitely isnt genuine.