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; the delay ............... 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 not have received" to show a possible negative past situation. "need not have received" would mean it was unnecessary for her to receive it, and "can't not have received" is not logical.
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.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
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; the delay 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.