Modal continuous: possibility in progress

The idea

Put a modal such as might, may, could, must or cannot before be and the verb ending in -ing. The modal expresses possibility or deduction; the continuous form focuses on the action in progress.

Examples

• Mina might be waiting at the station.
• The neighbours may be painting their kitchen.
• That must be someone knocking at the door.
• Our guide could be speaking to the driver now.
• The children cannot be sleeping with all that noise.
• I might be wearing the wrong jacket.

Watch out

Do not omit be: say might be waiting, not might waiting. Must expresses a strong deduction, while might leaves the possibility open.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. Leo might ___ dinner right now. (be cooking / cooking)

   Show answer or example answer

   be cooking

   be cooking completes the modal continuous and suggests dinner is possibly in progress.

2. Choose the correct option. The lights are on; they must ___ inside. (be working / working)

   Show answer or example answer

   be working

   be working makes the activity a strong deduction from the lights.

3. Choose the correct option. With that loud music, Ava cannot ___ . (be studying / studying)

   Show answer or example answer

   be studying

   be studying presents studying as impossible in the noisy situation.

Use it today

Imagine a friend is late. Write one possible explanation using might be.