B2–C1 · GFB · GFB003

Subject + must have been + -ing + past context

Explanation

A reusable frame from “Modal scope and past inference”. Compare how English and German express modal scope and past inference. Practise reusable constructions with Russian translations.

EN · EnglishSubject + must have been + -ing + past context
DE · GermanSubject + muss/müssen + ... + participle + haben/sein
RU · Translation

Должно быть, он шутил, когда это сказал.

EN · English

He must have been joking when he said that.

DE · German

Er muss gescherzt haben, als er das sagte.

Try variations2 · more examples

  1. RU · Translation

    Должно быть, она работала, когда ты позвонил.

    EN · English

    She must have been working when you called.

    DE · German

    Sie muss gearbeitet haben, als du angerufen hast.

  2. RU · Translation

    Должно быть, они ждали нас весь вечер.

    EN · English

    They must have been waiting for us all evening.

    DE · German

    Sie müssen den ganzen Abend auf uns gewartet haben.

Pattern graph

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