Passive voice & Modals of deduction — O/L English

What must I remember about Passive voice & Modals of deduction?

• Modals of present deduction express certainty and possibility based on evidence: 'must be' (almost 100% certain), 'can't be' (certainly impossible), 'may/might/could be' (possible).
• Modals of past deduction analyze historical evidence and mystery solutions: 'must have + past participle' (logically certain it happened).
• 'Can't have / couldn't have + past participle' expresses logical certainty that a past event was impossible: 'He can't have committed the theft; he was abroad'.
• 'Might have / may have / could have + past participle' indicates a past possibility that was plausible but unconfirmed.
• Mystery and detective registers: decipher, circumstantial evidence, conclusive proof, suspect, baffle, unravel.

Test yourself (1 minute)

1. The deduction negation trap

   Never use 'mustn't have' to express negative deduction; standard English strictly uses 'can't have' or 'couldn't have' (e.g., 'He can't have left without his bag', NOT 'mustn't have left').

2. 'Could have' implies unrealized possibility

   'She could have passed if she had studied' (she had the capacity, but did not).

3. Reading comprehension inference questions (Paper 2 Test 15)

   Differentiate factual statements from modal deductions made by the author.

Practise Passive voice & Modals of deduction questions today

Source: NIE G.C.E. (O/L) English Language Syllabus (Grade 11, Unit 9)

What should I study first?

What comes next?

Next in the syllabus

Where does Passive voice & Modals of deduction fit in the syllabus?

Grade 11 · Term 3