Exercices modaux de certitude : anglais en première

Indiquez le degré exprimé par chaque phrase : A quasi-certitude positive, B probabilité, C possibilité, D improbabilité, E impossibilité.

1. She must be at home: her car is outside.
2. That can’t be Tom; he’s in Australia.
3. It might rain later.
4. The parcel should arrive tomorrow.
5. They’re bound to win the cup.
6. He’s unlikely to come to the party.
7. The keys could be in the car.
8. It’s likely to be cold in the Highlands.

Complétez avec must ou can’t.

1. You’ve been travelling all day. You ___ be exhausted.
2. That ___ be the right answer: we’re measuring a length and it’s negative.
3. Listen to that accent. He ___ be from Liverpool.
4. She ___ be hungry; she’s just had a huge lunch.
5. The lights are off. They ___ be out.
6. He ___ be serious! Look, he’s smiling.
7. You got full marks? You ___ be very proud.
8. This ___ be the Smiths’ house: theirs is blue, and this one is red.

Mettez le verbe entre parenthèses à la forme qui convient après le modal.

1. Where’s Sam? – He might (sleep) ___; his door is closed.
2. They can’t (finish) ___ already; they only started ten minutes ago.
3. She must (work) ___ late tonight; the office lights are still on.
4. You must (be) ___ Mrs Jones. Nice to meet you.
5. He may (take) ___ the wrong road yesterday.
6. It could (be) ___ a fake; the colours look too bright.

Réécrivez chaque phrase avec must, can’t, may ou might + have + participe passé.

1. I’m sure he forgot our appointment.
2. It’s impossible that she saw us; it was dark.
3. Perhaps they missed the train.
4. I’m certain the museum was closed on Monday.
5. It’s possible that the email went to your spam folder.
6. It’s impossible that he wrote this essay alone.

Réécrivez avec l’expression indiquée entre parenthèses.

1. It will probably snow tonight. (likely)
2. They will certainly be late; they always are. (bound)
3. She probably won’t accept the offer. (unlikely)
4. It is probable that prices will rise. (Prices… likely)
5. You will certainly find a job with your degree. (bound)
6. It is likely that the match will be cancelled. (The match… likely)

Lisez les notes de l’inspecteur, puis complétez chaque déduction avec must have, might have ou can’t have + le participe passé du verbe entre parenthèses.

1. The thief (leave) ___ through the garden gate.
2. The thief (break) ___ in through the window: the glass fell outside.
3. The thief (know) ___ the code of the safe.
4. The dog (recognise) ___ the visitor.
5. The thief (hear) ___ a noise and (break) ___ the window to escape, but we have no proof.
6. A woman (drink) ___ tea with the owner, but the lipstick is not enough to be sure.

Corrigez l’erreur de chaque phrase.

1. He mustn’t be French: his accent is clearly American.
2. She must has left early.
3. You might to be right.
4. It is likely to raining this afternoon.
5. He must have went home.
6. They are bound win the election.
7. May be she is at the library.

Traduisez en anglais en choisissant le degré de certitude juste.

1. Il doit être malade : il n’est jamais absent.
2. Ce ne peut pas être vrai.
3. Ils ont dû se perdre.
4. Elle a peut-être raté son bus.
5. Il va forcément pleuvoir pendant le pique-nique.
6. Ils ne peuvent pas avoir oublié.

Traduisez en français.

1. You could have been killed!
2. That’ll be the delivery man.
3. He’s likely to be elected.
4. You might have told me!
5. The train should be here any minute.

Complétez le dialogue avec les mots suivants, chacun une seule fois : must, might, can’t, bound, unlikely, likely.

Imaginez la photo suivante : la nuit, sur le quai désert d’une gare écossaise, une valise ouverte, un billet pour Inverness et un bouquet de fleurs fanées. Écrivez une hypothèse par consigne.

1. Une quasi-certitude sur le présent (must).
2. Une impossibilité sur le présent (can’t).
3. Une possibilité sur le présent (might ou may).
4. Une déduction sur le passé (must have).
5. Une impossibilité sur le passé (can’t have).
6. Une prévision probable (be likely to ou be bound to).