[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":420},["ShallowReactive",2],{"en-game-modals-of-deduction-game":3},{"slug":4,"type":5,"mechanic":6,"topic":7,"published":8,"updated_at":9,"related_exercise":10,"levels":11,"seo":13,"settings":18,"questions":22,"content":330,"related_games":386,"available_locales":387,"course":389},"modals-of-deduction-game","grammar-game","speed-round","modals-of-deduction",true,"2026-10-10","\u002Fgrammar\u002Fmodals-of-deduction-exercises",[12],"B1",{"title":14,"meta_description":15,"h1":16,"subtitle":17},"Modals of Deduction Game | FluencyRoad","Play a free modals of deduction game. Use must, might and can't for present and past conclusions from evidence.","Modals of Deduction Game","Read the evidence, then show how sure you are.",{"questions_per_round":19,"lives":20,"seconds_per_question":21},12,3,15,[23,35,43,48,55,62,69,74,79,83,88,94,98,103,110,116,120,131,137,142,148,154,158,163,170,175,181,186,191,198,203,208,212,223,232,236,245,254,258,267,276,281,290,299,303,312,321,325],{"id":24,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":27,"options":28,"answer":29,"rule":33,"tag":34},"md-001","easy","multiple-choice","Leo is sitting beside me. He ___ be in Paris right now.",[29,30,31,32],"can't","must","might","must to","Direct evidence rules out his being in Paris at the same time.","impossible-present",{"id":36,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":38,"answer":39,"rule":41,"tag":42},"md-002","gap-fill","I am not sure where Ana is. She ___ at the library. (possible, not certain)",[40],"might be","Might be expresses an uncertain present possibility.","possible-present",{"id":44,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":46,"answer":8,"rule":47,"tag":42},"md-003","right-or-wrong","The room is dark and empty. The meeting might be elsewhere.","Might expresses one possible explanation, without claiming certainty.",{"id":49,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":50,"options":51,"answer":30,"rule":53,"tag":54},"md-004","All the café tables are occupied. As a strong conclusion, it ___ be popular.",[30,29,32,52],"might to","A full café strongly supports its popularity.","strong-present",{"id":56,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":57,"answer":58,"rule":61,"tag":34},"md-005","He is talking to us. He ___ asleep now. (impossible)",[59,60],"can't be","cannot be","Talking rules out being asleep at the same time.",{"id":63,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":64,"answer":65,"correction":66,"rule":67,"tag":68},"md-006","I don't know where Ben is. He must be at home. (I have no evidence.)",false,"I don't know where Ben is. He might be at home. (I have no evidence.)","With no evidence for a strong conclusion, might expresses possibility.","certainty",{"id":70,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":71,"options":72,"answer":30,"rule":73,"tag":54},"md-007","Her coat is on the chair and her voice is coming from the kitchen. She ___ be home.",[30,29,32,52],"The coat and voice strongly support the conclusion.",{"id":75,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":76,"answer":77,"rule":78,"tag":42},"md-008","Perhaps the parcel is at the neighbour's house. It ___ there. (possibility)",[40],"Might be marks an uncertain possibility.",{"id":80,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":81,"answer":8,"rule":82,"tag":54},"md-009","The shop is open and I can hear the owner's voice greeting customers. She must be there.","Hearing her voice inside strongly supports her presence.",{"id":84,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":85,"options":86,"answer":29,"rule":87,"tag":34},"md-010","The key is in my hand. It ___ be in the locked drawer.",[29,30,31,32],"Its visible location rules out the drawer.",{"id":89,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":90,"answer":91,"rule":93,"tag":54},"md-011","The office door is closed, but I can hear footsteps and voices inside. Someone ___ there. (strong conclusion)",[92],"must be","Footsteps and voices strongly support someone's presence.",{"id":95,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":96,"answer":8,"rule":97,"tag":42},"md-012","She might be at work. (That is one possibility; I am not sure.)","Might expresses uncertainty.",{"id":99,"difficulty":25,"format":26,"prompt":100,"options":101,"answer":29,"rule":102,"tag":34},"md-013","He is on a flight without internet. He ___ be on this video call now.",[29,30,31,32],"The lack of connection rules out his presence on this call.",{"id":104,"difficulty":25,"format":37,"prompt":105,"answer":106,"rule":108,"tag":109},"md-014","The street is wet, but I did not see what happened. It ___ earlier. (one possibility: rain)",[107],"might have rained","Might have + past participle marks a possible past cause.","possible-past",{"id":111,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":112,"answer":65,"correction":113,"rule":114,"tag":115},"md-015","He must to be at home; I can hear him inside.","He must be at home; I can hear him inside.","A modal takes the base verb without to.","form",{"id":117,"difficulty":25,"format":45,"prompt":118,"answer":8,"rule":119,"tag":109},"md-016","The window is broken. It might have happened during the storm.","Might have happened suggests a possible past cause.",{"id":121,"difficulty":122,"format":26,"prompt":123,"options":124,"answer":125,"rule":129,"tag":130},"md-017","medium","The cake is gone and Max has chocolate on his face. As a strong conclusion, he ___ eaten it.",[125,126,127,128],"must have","might have","can't have","must has","Modal + have + participle makes a strong deduction about the past.","strong-past",{"id":132,"difficulty":122,"format":37,"prompt":133,"answer":134,"rule":136,"tag":109},"md-018","Perhaps Nina missed the email; I am not sure. She ___ it. (miss)",[135],"might have missed","Might have + past participle expresses a possible past event.",{"id":138,"difficulty":122,"format":45,"prompt":139,"answer":8,"rule":140,"tag":141},"md-019","He can't have attended the meeting; he was on a flight without internet throughout it.","The evidence rules out that past attendance.","impossible-past",{"id":143,"difficulty":122,"format":26,"prompt":144,"options":145,"answer":127,"rule":147,"tag":141},"md-020","The museum was closed all weekend. They ___ visited it on Sunday.",[127,125,126,146],"can't has","The closure rules out a Sunday visit.",{"id":149,"difficulty":122,"format":37,"prompt":150,"answer":151,"rule":153,"tag":130},"md-021","There was a storm here last night and the streets are wet. As a strong conclusion, it ___ last night. (rain)",[152],"must have rained","Past deduction uses must have + past participle.",{"id":155,"difficulty":122,"format":45,"prompt":156,"answer":8,"rule":157,"tag":109},"md-022","I am unsure, but the parcel might have arrived at another address.","Might have arrived states an uncertain past possibility.",{"id":159,"difficulty":122,"format":26,"prompt":160,"options":161,"answer":29,"rule":162,"tag":34},"md-023","We saw Sam leave at nine, and he is on a live call from home at ten. He ___ still be in the office.",[29,30,32,52],"His live call from home rules out being in the office then.",{"id":164,"difficulty":122,"format":37,"prompt":165,"answer":166,"rule":169,"tag":141},"md-024","She was in hospital for the whole concert and it was not streamed. She ___ it. (see; impossible past)",[167,168],"can't have seen","cannot have seen","Can't have + past participle rules out the past event.",{"id":171,"difficulty":122,"format":45,"prompt":172,"answer":65,"correction":173,"rule":174,"tag":115},"md-025","The ground is wet. It must has rained.","The ground is wet. It must have rained.","Use modal + have + past participle, not has.",{"id":176,"difficulty":122,"format":26,"prompt":177,"options":178,"answer":126,"rule":180,"tag":109},"md-026","I cannot find my keys. I ___ left them at work, but I am not sure.",[126,125,127,179],"might has","Might have expresses an uncertain past explanation.",{"id":182,"difficulty":122,"format":37,"prompt":183,"answer":184,"rule":185,"tag":34},"md-027","She is standing beside me. She ___ at the station right now. (impossible)",[59,60],"Her presence here rules out being at the station now.",{"id":187,"difficulty":122,"format":45,"prompt":188,"answer":65,"correction":189,"rule":190,"tag":115},"md-028","Perhaps she might has left her bag on the train.","Perhaps she might have left her bag on the train.","After might, use have + past participle.",{"id":192,"difficulty":122,"format":26,"prompt":193,"options":194,"answer":92,"rule":197,"tag":54},"md-029","I hear a voice in the next room and see the light on. As a strong conclusion, someone ___ there.",[92,195,59,196],"might to be","must to be","The sound and light strongly support someone's presence.",{"id":199,"difficulty":122,"format":37,"prompt":200,"answer":201,"rule":202,"tag":141},"md-030","The cinema's only screening ended at eight. Lee arrived at nine. Lee ___ the ending there. (see; impossible past)",[167,168],"He arrived after the only screening ended, so that viewing is ruled out.",{"id":204,"difficulty":122,"format":45,"prompt":205,"answer":65,"correction":206,"rule":207,"tag":115},"md-031","He might is at the station; I am not certain.","He might be at the station; I am not certain.","Use the base form be after might.",{"id":209,"difficulty":122,"format":45,"prompt":210,"answer":8,"rule":211,"tag":34},"md-032","The keys are on the table. They can't be in my pocket.","Their visible location rules out the pocket.",{"id":213,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":215,"options":216,"answer":217,"rule":221,"tag":222},"md-033","hard","I hear two colleagues talking inside the locked office now; yesterday's report is missing. You are sure someone is inside but unsure who moved the report. Choose both conclusions.",[217,218,219,220],"Someone must be inside; someone might have moved the report.","Someone might be inside; someone must has moved the report.","Someone can't be inside; someone might has moved the report.","Someone must to be inside; someone can't have moved the report.","Voices support a strong present conclusion; the report's movement remains an uncertain past possibility.","mixed",{"id":224,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":225,"options":226,"answer":227,"rule":231,"tag":222},"md-034","The train left at eight; Mara did not leave home until nine. A later bus also runs, but nobody knows whether she took it. Choose both past deductions.",[227,228,229,230],"She can't have caught that train; she might have taken the later bus.","She must have caught that train; she can't have taken the later bus.","She might has caught that train; she must has taken the later bus.","She can't has caught that train; she might to have taken the later bus.","Her late departure rules out that train; the bus remains an uncertain possibility.",{"id":233,"difficulty":214,"format":45,"prompt":234,"answer":8,"rule":235,"tag":222},"md-035","The museum is closed now, so the visitors can't be inside. Yesterday it was open, so they might have visited then.","Can't be rules out a present state; might have visited allows a past possibility.",{"id":237,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":238,"options":239,"answer":240,"rule":244,"tag":222},"md-036","The cake was intact after Ava left; only Max entered the kitchen afterward. Now the cake is gone and Max has chocolate on his face. Choose the two best past deductions.",[240,241,242,243],"Max must have eaten it; Ava can't have eaten it.","Max might has eaten it; Ava must have eaten it.","Max can't have eaten it; Ava might have eaten it.","Max must to have eaten it; Ava can't has eaten it.","The timing rules Ava out; Max's access and chocolate strongly point to him.",{"id":246,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":247,"options":248,"answer":249,"rule":253,"tag":222},"md-037","Nora put the letter in her bag and left carrying that bag. She cannot find the letter now. Choose a strong past conclusion and a present possibility.",[249,250,251,252],"She must have taken it with her; it might be in the bag now.","She might has taken it with her; it must to be in the bag now.","She can't have taken it with her; it must be in the bag now.","She must has taken it with her; it can't to be in the bag now.","Taking the bag supports the past conclusion; the letter's current location remains uncertain.",{"id":255,"difficulty":214,"format":45,"prompt":256,"answer":8,"rule":257,"tag":222},"md-038","He cannot be at the concert now; he is here. He might have watched yesterday's rehearsal, but I do not know.","Present evidence rules out the concert; might have marks uncertain past viewing.",{"id":259,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":260,"options":261,"answer":262,"rule":266,"tag":222},"md-039","You are unsure where the key is now. A dated inventory signed by two colleagues lists it on the table yesterday. Choose a possible present and a strong past conclusion.",[262,263,264,265],"It might be in the drawer now; it must have been on the table yesterday.","It must be in the drawer now; it might has been on the table yesterday.","It can't be in the drawer now; it must has been on the table yesterday.","It might to be in the drawer now; it can't have been on the table yesterday.","Might be expresses uncertainty now; the signed record supports must have been about yesterday.",{"id":268,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":269,"options":270,"answer":271,"rule":275,"tag":222},"md-040","The cinema was closed all Saturday, but the film was available to stream. We do not know what they did. Choose an impossible event and a possible one.",[271,272,273,274],"They can't have watched it at the cinema; they might have streamed it at home.","They must have watched it at the cinema; they can't have streamed it at home.","They can't has watched it at the cinema; they might has streamed it at home.","They might to have watched it at the cinema; they must has streamed it at home.","Closure rules out the cinema visit; streaming remains a possibility.",{"id":277,"difficulty":214,"format":45,"prompt":278,"answer":65,"correction":279,"rule":280,"tag":222},"md-041","The ground is wet, so it must has rained; the sky is clear now, so it might not rain again.","The ground is wet, so it must have rained; the sky is clear now, so it might not rain again.","Past deduction takes modal + have + participle; might not marks a present uncertainty.",{"id":282,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":283,"options":284,"answer":285,"rule":289,"tag":222},"md-042","You know Rita was on a flight with no internet during the video meeting, but you do not know whether she read the notes later. Choose both deductions.",[285,286,287,288],"She can't have joined the call; she might have read the notes later.","She must have joined the call; she can't have read the notes later.","She might has joined the call; she must has read the notes later.","She can't has joined the call; she might to have read the notes later.","The flight rules out joining; reading later remains possible.",{"id":291,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":292,"options":293,"answer":294,"rule":298,"tag":222},"md-043","The bakery shutters are down, but warm bread smells and oven sounds come from inside. Nobody knows whether the flour delivery came late. Choose both deductions.",[294,295,296,297],"Someone must be baking inside; the flour might have arrived late.","Someone can't be baking inside; the flour must has arrived late.","Someone might to be baking inside; the flour can't have arrived late.","Someone must to be baking inside; the flour might has arrived late.","Smell and sounds support present baking; the delivery time remains uncertain.",{"id":300,"difficulty":214,"format":45,"prompt":301,"answer":8,"rule":302,"tag":222},"md-044","The parcel might have arrived yesterday, but I am not sure; the delivery tracker shows it was placed in our locked parcel box, so it must be here now.","Might have arrived marks uncertain past timing; the secure delivery record strongly supports its current location.",{"id":304,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":305,"options":306,"answer":307,"rule":311,"tag":222},"md-045","The shop is closed and I can see its owner on a bus now, though I did not see her leave the shop. Choose a strong past conclusion and a present impossibility.",[307,308,309,310],"The owner must have left; she can't be inside now.","The owner might has left; she must be inside now.","The owner can't have left; she might to be inside now.","The owner must has left; she can't to be inside now.","Her presence on the bus strongly supports that she left; it rules out her being inside now.",{"id":313,"difficulty":214,"format":26,"prompt":314,"options":315,"answer":316,"rule":320,"tag":222},"md-046","He was beside me throughout yesterday's meeting in London. The Paris team offered a video link, but I do not know whether he joined it. Choose both deductions.",[316,317,318,319],"He can't have been in Paris; he might have joined the meeting online.","He must have been in Paris; he can't have joined the meeting online.","He can't has been in Paris; he might has joined the meeting online.","He might to have been in Paris; he must has joined the meeting online.","His location rules out being in Paris; online participation remains possible.",{"id":322,"difficulty":214,"format":45,"prompt":323,"answer":8,"rule":324,"tag":141},"md-047","She can't have seen the film at the cinema last weekend; the cinema was closed the whole time.","The closure rules out that past viewing.",{"id":326,"difficulty":214,"format":45,"prompt":327,"answer":65,"correction":328,"rule":329,"tag":68},"md-048","Perhaps the parcel must have arrived at the wrong address; I have no evidence yet.","Perhaps the parcel might have arrived at the wrong address; I have no evidence yet.","Perhaps and no evidence call for possibility with might, not a strong deduction with must.",{"how_to_play":331,"rule_intro":335,"rule_sections":336,"faq":366,"related_exercise_label":385},[332,333,334],"Choose Practice for an untimed round, or Challenge for twelve timed questions and three lives.","Practice lets you choose a difficulty; Challenge mixes all three levels.","Read each correction and continue with the related exercise.","Use must for a strong conclusion from evidence, might for a possibility, and can't when evidence rules something out. For the past, add have + past participle.",[337,347,356],{"heading":338,"body":339,"examples":340},"Present evidence","Must be expresses a strong conclusion, might be an uncertain possibility, and can't be an impossible present conclusion.",[341,344],{"sentence":342,"note":343},"Her voice is in the kitchen. She must be home.","The voice is strong evidence.",{"sentence":345,"note":346},"He can't be in Paris; he is beside me.","The evidence rules Paris out.",{"heading":348,"body":349,"examples":350},"Past evidence","Use modal + have + past participle for a deduction about an earlier event.",[351,353],{"sentence":173,"note":352},"A strong conclusion about the past.",{"sentence":354,"note":355},"She might have missed the bus.","One possible past explanation.",{"heading":357,"body":358,"examples":359},"Match certainty to evidence","Direct contradictions support can't. Strong clues support must. If you are unsure or have several possible explanations, use might.",[360,363],{"sentence":361,"note":362},"The museum was closed. They can't have visited it.","Closure rules out the visit.",{"sentence":364,"note":365},"I cannot find my keys. I might have left them at work.","That is possible but unconfirmed.",[367,370,373,376,379,382],{"question":368,"answer":369},"Is this modals of deduction game free?","Yes. Practice and Challenge are free without an account.",{"question":371,"answer":372},"What is the difference between must and might?","Must gives a strong conclusion from evidence. Might gives a possible explanation that is not certain.",{"question":374,"answer":375},"Does can't mean impossible here?","Yes. It says the evidence rules out that conclusion.",{"question":377,"answer":378},"How do I make a deduction about the past?","Use must, might or can't + have + past participle.",{"question":380,"answer":381},"Can I use this game in class?","Yes. Ask learners to state the evidence before selecting a modal.",{"question":383,"answer":384},"Is my score saved?","Your best Challenge score is saved in this browser, not your account.","Modals of Deduction Exercises",[],{"es":388},"\u002Fes\u002Fjuegos\u002Fjuego-de-verbos-modales-de-deduccion",{"unit":390,"units_total":394,"hub_url":395,"prev":396,"next":401,"steps":405},{"id":391,"number":392,"title":393},"predictions",28,"Predictions",30,"\u002Fcourse",{"type":397,"slug":398,"title":385,"url":10,"question_count":399,"kind":400},"exercise","modals-of-deduction-exercises",18,null,{"type":397,"slug":402,"title":403,"url":404,"question_count":399,"kind":400},"future-continuous-perfect-exercises","Future Continuous and Future Perfect Exercises","\u002Fgrammar\u002Ffuture-continuous-perfect-exercises",[406,407,410,411,415],{"type":397,"slug":398,"title":385,"url":10,"kind":400},{"type":408,"slug":4,"title":16,"url":409},"game","\u002Fgames\u002Fmodals-of-deduction-game",{"type":397,"slug":402,"title":403,"url":404,"kind":400},{"type":408,"slug":412,"title":413,"url":414},"future-continuous-perfect-game","Future Continuous and Future Perfect Game","\u002Fgames\u002Ffuture-continuous-perfect-game",{"type":416,"slug":417,"title":418,"url":419,"kind":400},"reading","the-weather-station","The Weather Station","\u002Freading\u002Fthe-weather-station",1791764847859]