Muallif: Abdukadirova Nasiba Alimjanovna
Crime & Law. Modal Verbs for Possibility and Deduction (may / might / must / can’t)
Crime & Law 
Grammar Focus:
Modal Verbs for Possibility and Deduction (may / might / must / can’t) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lta1sfBIXCY&pp=ygVmaWJyYXQgZmFyemFuZGxhcmkgaW5nbGl6IHRpbGkgTW9kYWwgVmVyYnMgZm9yIFBvc3NpYmlsaXR5IGFuZCBEZWR1Y3Rpb24gKG1heSAvIG1pZ2h0IC8gbXVzdCAvIGNhbuKAmXQp
🎯 Lesson Aims
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To discuss crime, justice, and law-related issues in modern society.
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To use modal verbs to express possibility and deduction.
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To develop reasoning and discussion skills through analyzing situations.
🧠 Warm-Up Discussion
Ask students:
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What types of crimes are common in your country?
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What laws do you think are most important?
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How do police investigate crimes?
(Encourage use of modal verbs in initial guesses: “It might be because…”, “They must check the evidence.”)
🔤 Grammar Focus: Modal Verbs of Possibility & Deduction
| Modal Verb | Meaning | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| must | 90–100% sure (strong deduction) | He must be a lawyer — he knows the law well. |
| may / might / could | 50% sure (possible, but not certain) | The man might be guilty, but we need more proof. |
| can’t / couldn’t | 0% sure (impossible) | She can’t be the thief — she was in class at that time. |
🧩 Form:Subject + modal verb + base verb
e.g. He must be tired. / They might have stolen the car.
🔎 Examples in Context
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The lights are off — they must be sleeping.
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He looks nervous — he might be hiding something.
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She’s a police officer; she can’t be a criminal.
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They’re wearing uniforms — they must be security guards.
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The door is open — someone may have forgotten to lock it.
⚖️ Practice: Choose the Correct Modal
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The streets are empty. It ______ (must / might / can’t) be very late.
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The suspect has an alibi. He ______ (must / might / can’t) be guilty.
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That car looks expensive. It ______ (must / might / can’t) cost a fortune.
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She looks upset. She ______ (must / might / can’t) have failed her test.
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He’s smiling. He ______ (must / might / can’t) be happy about the results.
(Check answers together and discuss reasoning.)
🧩 Vocabulary Bank — Crime & Law
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| crime | illegal action | Crime rates are rising in big cities. |
| law | system of rules | Everyone must obey the law. |
| judge | person who decides cases in court | The judge found him guilty. |
| evidence | proof or facts | The police found new evidence. |
| punishment | penalty for crime | The punishment was a fine. |
| suspect | person who may have committed a crime | The suspect might be hiding somewhere. |
🗣️ Speaking Activity: "Detective Role-Play"
Scenario: A robbery happened at the mall. Students receive short clues (e.g., “The suspect wore a red jacket,” “The door wasn’t locked”).
They must discuss using modal verbs:
“He must have been there early.”
“It might have been an inside job.”
“She can’t be guilty — she was at work.”
Encourage natural reasoning and teamwork.
✍️ Writing Task
Write a short paragraph (100 words):
“How police solve crimes using logic.”
Use at least four modal verbs for possibility and deduction.
Example:
“When police arrive, they look for clues. If the door is broken, it must be a break-in. If there are no fingerprints, it might be planned carefully. Sometimes, it can’t be an outsider — it’s someone who knew the house well.”
🎧 Extension / Listening Idea
Play a short “crime mystery” audio clip or video (e.g., “The Case of the Missing Necklace”).
Ask students to decide:
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Who do they think is guilty?
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What clues make them sure?
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Which modal verbs can describe their deductions?
🧩 Homework
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Watch a detective show (or short YouTube mystery) and write 5 sentences using must / might / can’t.
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Prepare to present a short crime story using modal verbs in the next class.