Home Topics Blogs list Vocabularynew
Similar Topics
Top Blogs
Popular Tags

1
Must: deduction
Blog »Grammar

We can use musno say that we are sure about something (because it is logically necessary).

  • If A is bigger than B, and В is bigger than C, then A must be bigger than С
  • Mary keeps crying. She must have some problem.
  • There's the doorbell. It must be Roger.
  • 'I'm in love.' 'That must be nice.'

In questions and negatives, we use can and can't with this meaning, not must and mustn't.

  • 'There's somebody at the door. Who can it be? 'It can't be the postman.
  • It's only seven o'clock.' What do you think this letter can mean?

 
We use
 
must have + past participle    for deductions about the past
 
(can have in questions and negatives).

must/can/can't have + past participle

  • 'We went to Rome last month.' 'That must have been nice.'
  • I don't think he can have heard you. Call again.
  • Where can John have put the matches? He can't have thrown them away.

 


Share/Bookmark
Vera, 516 days ago 0
Comments
Home | Contacts | WordSteps.com - Enrich your Vocabulary
© 2008-2012 RapidSteps.com