What is "deduction"?
Deduction is a grammatical structure used to make an inference or draw a conclusion based on available information. Here are some examples of deductions in English grammar:
- Sally’s shoes are untied, she might have been in a rush to get here.
- Tony is a pilot, he must travel a lot.
- They are not here, they could be in the kitchen.
- Sam’s hair is wet, it can’t be sunny outside.
- Harry is out of breath, he must have been running.1
Modal verbs are often used to express deductions in English grammar. Here are some examples:
- We can use modal verbs for deduction – guessing if something is true using the available information. The modal verb we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility.2
- This page focuses on making deductions about the present or past. Must have is used for making deductions about the past.3
- As you watch the video, look at the examples of modals of deduction. They are in red in the subtitles. Then read the conversation below to learn more. Finally, do the grammar exercises to check you understand, and can use, modals of deduction correctly.4
I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
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