Considering the (im)possible and the (im)probable

 

 Watch the segment from the movie. What do you think happened? 

 

1. Jen took too many tranquilizers the night before.
2. Her daughter fell and hurt herself.
3. Jen hurt her older daughter.
4. Jen's husband didn't die.
5. Jim died in a car accident.
6. Jen had an amnesia attack.
7. The children went to school that morning. 

 Here is the link to the video.

Discuss what you think happened with a partner. What proof do you have to support your guess?


Useful language
My guess is that ...
She must have ...
She probably ...
She can't have ...
She may/might have ...
I doubt she/her daughter/her husband ....
That could not have happened because ....
There is now way ...
It's virtually impossible ...

Some other expressions to speculate about a past event:
Possibly ...
Probably ...
That can't be.
It's just/simply not possible


Here are some other situations and possible explanations

Situation: Someone left an urgent message with the office secretary but you didn't get it.
Explanation: She must have misdialed/called a wrong number

Situation: Your test results show you failed but you are sure you didn't so badly.
Explanation: The teacher may have switched your grades with those of another student.

 
Let's practice some more. Choose the correct alternative to complete the sentences. 

Consider a recent event in the news in which the circumstances are not clearly explained. What do you think possibly/probably happened?

Here are some suggestions:

Throat cancer 'caused by oral sex' says Michael Douglas

Brazilian tribe re-occupies farm after deadly clash

Tourist shot in Rio favela