C Write: Put in suitable forms which express uncertainty or possibility. OLDER AND WISER?

We make decisions all the time, but we 1 can never be certain whether we are right or wrong. The work you choose to do2 … be suitable for you or it 3… not. The person you marry 4… be a perfect match or 5 … be the worst possible choice. Suppose you have saved money for the future. You 6… invest it wisely so that it grows in value or you 7… lose the lot in a foolish moment. You think you have a healthy diet, but the food you eat 8… actually be very bad for you and 9 … be the cause of terrible illness. Perhaps you travel a lot by plane. All the flights you make are routine, but one of them 10 … be your last. Decisions! Decisions! But we don't learn from experience. Experience is the quality that allows us to go on making the same mistakes with more confidence!

 

11.5A Certainty or deduction? [> LEG 11.27,11. 32-33]

1 We express certainty with be or any full verb: He is here. He lives here. He is leaving.

2 We express deduction with must be/can't be, must have been, can't/couldn't have been:

He must be at home. He can't be out. He must have been at home yesterday.

Or with verbs other than be: He must live abroad. He must have lived abroad.

Write: Read these sentences and write C (= Certainty) or D (= Deduction) against each one.

1 John Wright is a man of action. C 2 He was in the Galapagos ten years ago… 3 Now he lives in an enormous house…

4 He is writing a book… 5 He has been writing this book since he came back from the Galapagos… 6 He must be writing about his travels… 7 He must have seen the giant tortoises and the iguanas on the Galapagos… 8 He can't have seen any elephants on the Galapagos… 9 He can't have been working very hard on his book… 10 He must have taken a lot of photos while he was on the islands…

11 He must have done a lot of research for his book… 12 He must enjoy life…

11.5B Two kinds of 'must be' [> LEG 11.33, 11. 46-48]:

1 We use must be in the present to express deduction [> 11.1C]: You haven't eaten for hours. You must be hungry!

2 The negative of must be (= deduction) is can't be, not *mustn't be*: You've only just eaten. You can't be hungry again! (Not *mustn't be")

3 We can also use must (be) to express total obligation [> 11.1 A]: This is a hospital. You must be quiet.

4 The negative of must (be) (= total obligation) is mustn't (be) (= prohibition [> 11.3B]) You mustn't be noisy outside a hospital.

Write: a Supply must be, can't be, or mustn't be. b Write D (= Deduction) or O (= Obligation) beside each sentence.

1 The meeting is at 10 o'clock sharp and you mustn’t be late. O 2 You … at the station ten minutes before the departure of the train. 3 The children … tired already! We've only been walking for ten minutes. 4 The children … thirsty. They haven't had a drink for hours. 5 Did you hear that? It … someone walking about in our garden. 6 I don't recognize the handwriting on this envelope. It … from anyone we know. 7 Your handwriting … clear, otherwise no one will be able to read it. 8 You … a nuisance when you're a guest in someone's house. 9 Don't panic! We … late for the train. It doesn't leave till 10.05. 10 We … late for the train or we'll miss our connection.

11.5C 'Must have been', 'can't/ couldn't have been'; 'had to be/didn't have to be' [> LEG 11.32-33]

1 We express deduction about the past with must have been:

You hadn't eaten for hours. You must have been hungry!

2 The negative of must have been is can't/couldn't have been, not *mustn't have been*: You had already eaten. You can't/ couldn't have been hungry! (Not 'mustn't have been*)

3 Must (= total obligation) is not a 'complete verb' [> 11.1B]. We use had to in the past: The meeting was at 10 this morning and I had to be there. (Not "must have been*)

4 The negative of had to is didn't have to: It was a holiday yesterday, so I didn't have to be at work. (Not 'mustn't have been*)

Write: Supply must have been, can't/couldn't have been, have to/had to (be), didn't have to (be).

1 He knows a lot about flying planes. He must have been a pilot when he was young.2 Vera … at the supermarket this morning. I didn't see her there.3 John … at the bank till 10, so he only arrived here five minutes ago. 4 When … (she) … at the hospital? - Early this morning.5 We had enough foreign currency left at the end of the holiday, so I … buy any more.6 Monica knew exactly what to do. I … tell her twice.7 There are so many nice things for tea, I think you …expecting us. 8 There … an accident on South Street because the road is closed off. 9 You … waiting long. After all, I'm only five minutes late. 10 When I was a boy we … sitting at our desks working before the boss got in.11 I left a message on your answer phone last night. You … out. 12 The fire alarm went and we … out of the building in two minutes.

11.5D Write: Put in must be/ must have been, can't be/can't have been, had to be or didn't have to be. THE MYSTERY OF THE TALKING SHOE. Tracy Evans 1 didn’t have to be at work till 10, so she ignored her alarm clock. But she woke up with a start when she heard a strange sound coming from her wardrobe! What was it? It 2 … a mouse, Tracy thought. No, it 3 … She knew there were no mice in her room. 4 You… careful, Tracy said to herself as she opened the wardrobe. There, in front of her, was the lovely pair of wedge-shaped sandals she had bought the day before. Then she heard the sound again! 'It 5 … coming from my sandals!' she cried. She picked them up and, sure enough, one of them was 'talking'! Tracy 6 … at work at ten, but she still had enough time to visit Mr Lucas, her shoemaker. He removed the wooden heel and they were both amazed to see a white larva eating the wood. Mr Pope, of the Natural History Museum, solved the mystery. These shoes 7 … (import) from Brazil. An insect 8 … (lay) its eggs in the tree from which the shoes were made,' he explained.