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All English activities

Activities: “How to make deductions in English?”

By: Stacey Shim Christensen

Activity 1: Oh no! The baby is crying!

Oh no! The baby is crying! Choose the right modal to make deductions about why!

  1. She ____ be cold. It’s warm in her room, but it’s still possible.
    Select your answer
  2. ____ she be sick? But it’s unlikely. She’s a very healthy baby.
    Select your answer
  3. I don’t know much about babies, but she ____ have a dirty diaper. We should check.
    Select your answer
  4. She ____ have a stomach ache. At least, that was the problem once.
    Select your answer
  5. She ____ be tired. She didn’t want to take her usual nap.
    Select your answer
  6. The baby is crying, but she ____ be hungry because I just fed her.
    Select your answer

Activity 2: Fill in the blanks

For each sentence, fill in the blank with a modal + the verb in parentheses.

  1. Your brother (be) a great soccer player. Everyone wants him on their team.

  2. I don’t know why I’ve been so tired this week. I (be) staying up too late.

  3. Do you know where Mom is? She (leave) — her car key is on the table.

  4. Go and look in the basket in the mudroom. You (leave) your gloves in there.

  5. Julie (like) the movie very much. She left before the movie ended.

  6. Oh, we have a missed call from New York. It (be) from Mark. He said he would call today.

  7. I saw Julie buying Mark’s favorite cologne. She (go) to Mark’s birthday party this weekend.

Activity 3: Make your own deductions!

A photo of the torso of a white man in a navy blue suit and tie, with a modern staircase in the background.

Based on the photo, create your own deductions using modals, adverbs, or set phrases and the given words.
ex: Tom is wearing a suit and tie today.
Since you are making your own conclusions, there are no "correct" answers for this activity!

  1. (job interview).

  2. (nervous).

  3. The interview (last one hour).