Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1The office is dark and the car park is empty; they ............... already.
Wrong!
Use "must have left" for a strong deduction about a past action from present evidence.
2We've called three times and the door is locked; they ............... at home.
Wrong!
Use "can't be" for a strong negative deduction about the present.
3The train was delayed, so it ............... have been caused by bad weather.
Wrong!
Use "may" to show a possible past explanation with "have been caused".
4Her report is excellent; she ............... hours on it.
Wrong!
Use "must have spent" for a strong deduction about past effort.
5All the food has gone and the containers are empty; someone ............... it all.
Wrong!
Use "must have eaten" for a strong deduction about a completed past action.
6She was underground all morning, so she ............... not have received my message.
Wrong!
Use "might" to show a possible negative past situation with "not have received".
7His accent is almost native; he ............... have learned English only recently.
Wrong!
Use "can't" for a strong negative deduction about the past with "have learned".
8The engine is still warm, so they ............... only a few minutes ago.
Wrong!
Use "must have arrived" for a strong deduction about a recent past event.
9Her phone is on silent, so she ............... asleep.
Wrong!
Use "may be" to express a present possibility.
10This key doesn't fit, so this ............... the manager's office.
Wrong!
Use "can't be" for a strong negative deduction about the present.
11His pronunciation is excellent; he ............... have lived abroad for years.
Wrong!
Use "must" for a strong deduction about past experience with "have lived".
12There is still a typo on the first page, so she ............... the draft carefully.
Wrong!
Use "couldn't have read" to say the evidence makes a careful past action impossible.
Done.
Score: 0/12
Answers
- The office is dark and the car park is empty; they must have left already.
- We’ve called three times and the door is locked; they can’t be at home.
- The train was delayed, so it may have been caused by bad weather.
- Her report is excellent; she must have spent hours on it.
- All the food has gone and the containers are empty; someone must have eaten it all.
- She was underground all morning, so she might not have received my message.
- His accent is almost native; he can’t have learned English only recently.
- The engine is still warm, so they must have arrived only a few minutes ago.
- Her phone is on silent, so she may be asleep.
- This key doesn’t fit, so this can’t be the manager’s office.
- His pronunciation is excellent; he must have lived abroad for years.
- There is still a typo on the first page, so she couldn’t have read the draft carefully.
