Can-Do Task: Speculating About a Mystery

Task: speculate about an unexplained situation using a range of modal and speculative language.

Notice

  • Example: The lights were on all night, so someone must have been working late. They could have forgotten to turn them off, but I dare say it was intentional — they’re bound to have an early deadline.

Rule

Your task: Write 5–7 sentences speculating about a mystery or unexplained situation (real or invented). Use at least four structures from this module: modal perfect continuous, would/dare say/should think, and bound to/on the verge of/likely to.

Practice

  1. Planning line: what mystery or situation will you speculate about?
    Answer: Personal answer.
  2. Draft one sentence using the modal perfect continuous.
    Answer: Personal answer, e.g. ‘They must have been planning this for weeks.’

Connect

Test your accuracy with advanced modality before writing.

Try Grammar Quiz →

CEFR: Spoken Production — present detailed, nuanced speculation on a complex situation.

Azizul Hakim
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