Must and Can't (deduction)

 

 

According to Swan (Practical English Usage (Oxford University Press, 1997)), when we deduce that a future state or event is the most logical or rational outcome, we use must or can't/couldn't:

You must be joking! That's just totally illogical!

You can't be serious! That's just totally illogical!

He couldn't be there now, surely. He always leaves at 4.30.