That must be the year

[twolivesbehindschedule]

When I can't recall with certainty the year of an event that I describe, can I say for instance at the end:

''That must be 2001''
or
''That must have been 2001''

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

When I can't recall with certainty the year of an event that I describe, can I say, for instance, at the end:

''That must be 2001'' or ''That must have been 2001.''

That's fine for informal speech.

To say more strongly that you're not certain, you can say might or could instead of must.

 

[GoesStation]

''That must be 2001'':cross:
or
"That must have been [in] 2001.":tick:

See above.

Don't use two single quotes where a double quote is required.

 

[emsr2d2]

Using "must be" when you're not certain doesn't work for me unless there's something else in the sentence that expresses your uncertainty.

I think that must have been around 2001.
That must have been around 2001.
That might have been 2001.
That could have been 2001.