About modal verbs.

Question

complete the sentences using can't, must, or might.
1.You haven't eaten all day.You might be starving.
(why does this item use "might"?)
2.Penelope's joking.She can't be serious.
(why does this item use "can't"?)
3.Josh has been studying all afternoon. He must be tired by now.
(why does this item use "must"?)
4.I'm not sure of the way there. Let's ask Peter. he might drive us there.
(why does this item use "might"?)
5.I can't find my keys anywhere. I must have lost them.
(why does this item use "must"?)
6.Who's a the door? It can't be Emily. She's out of town.
(why does this item use "can't"?)

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

In English, there are certain patterns that are heard all the time in certain situations, and are almost of the nature of an idiom - so there is no way really of referencing them to specific rules of grammar. This is what you have in these six sentences.

1. "You might be starving." is grammatical and logical, but it is not used in this situation. It should be "You must be starving." This is the standard statement that would follow "You haven't eaten all day."
2. "She can't be serious." is what you'd hear in this situation.
3. "He must be tired by now." is what you'd hear.
4. "He might drive us there." is what you'd hear.
5. "I must have lost them." is what you'd hear.
6. "It can't be Emily." is what you'd hear.

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