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B2 Modal Deduction and Speculation Test

HiLernity Practice & Tests · B2 Grammar

B2 Modal Deduction and Speculation Test

12 questions · 22 minutes · instant feedback

22:00

British English usage: Use must for strong logical deduction, may/might/could for possibility and can’t/couldn’t for strong negative deduction. For past deduction, use modal + have + past participle.

Cambridge Grammar reference: Cambridge distinguishes degrees of certainty and shows past deduction through forms such as must have, might have and can’t have.

Source note: HiLernity is independent and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the British Council or Cambridge University Press & Assessment.

Offline test mode
1. The lights are on. They ___ be at home.
2. She isn’t answering. She ___ be in a meeting.
3. That ___ be John; he’s abroad this week.
4. He looks exhausted. He ___ slept badly.
5. They ___ missed the train, but I’m not sure.
6. She ___ forgotten; she wrote it in her diary.
7. Choose the strongest deduction.
8. Choose the weaker possibility.
9. The door is locked. They ___ gone out. (strong deduction)
10. He ___ known about the change; nobody told him.
11. She ___ be coming later; she hasn’t decided yet.
12. They ___ been waiting for us for ages. (strong deduction)