English Study Flashcards: Idioms, Expressions, and Modal Verbs of Deduction

Comprehensive practice tool for Vocabulary and Modal Verbs of Deduction (must / can't) based on the lecture notes.

…been through a lot

Experienced many severe difficulties, hardships, or emotional trauma..

Get over it / something

To recover from an illness, a major disappointment, an emotional shock, or a breakup.

Go down really well (with someone)

To be received positively, highly appreciated, or popular with a specific crowd/audience.

Full of himself / herself

Arrogant, cocky, conceited, or displaying excessive over-confidence.

Speaking of… / Talking of…

A conversational transition link used to pivot seamlessly to a topic that was just brought up.

Prone to + [Noun / -ing]

Having a natural tendency, vulnerability, or predisposition to something (usually negative).

It’s all in hand

Everything is completely under control and being actively managed.

Could do without

Don't want it; it's a nuisance.

Could do with

Highly want or urgently need.

Got far too much on / A full plate

Extremely busy; carrying an excessive load of duties or scheduling commitments.

Be on top of things

To remain well-informed, organized, and in perfect control of your duties.

By the way

Used to introduce a quick afterthought, incidental information, or a tangent topic.

Burst out [screaming/laughing/crying]

To suddenly, violently, and uncontrollably break into a specific outward expression.

Certain positive logical guess (Present)

Subject + must + base verb (e.g., "You must be tired").

Certain positive logical guess (Past)

Subject + must have + past participle (e.g., "It must have rained overnight").

Certain negative logical guess (Present)

Subject + can't + base verb (e.g., "It's only noon; he can't be asleep yet").

Certain negative logical guess (Past)

Subject + can't have + past participle (e.g., "She can't have stolen your keys").

Transformation: "I bet that was pretty dull, wasn’t it?"

"That must have been pretty dull," because it implies high certainty about a past situation.

Transformation: "I don’t imagine he was very pleased…"

"He can't have been very pleased when he found out," because it implies you are certain a past situation was impossible.

Inverting "She can’t have been feeling very well" with 'Must'

"She must have been feeling very bad."

Inverting "You can’t be serious" with 'Must'

"You must be kidding / joking."