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Understanding Past Modal Verbs

The document discusses past modal verbs which imply something was possible, permitted, obligated or able to be done in the past but didn't actually happen. Some common past modal verbs are might have, could have, may have, must have, should have, and couldn't have. These verbs are used with a past participle to talk about speculation, deduction, possibility, impossibility, and regret regarding past events. Examples are provided for how each past modal verb is used.

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Andrea Morales
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337 views3 pages

Understanding Past Modal Verbs

The document discusses past modal verbs which imply something was possible, permitted, obligated or able to be done in the past but didn't actually happen. Some common past modal verbs are might have, could have, may have, must have, should have, and couldn't have. These verbs are used with a past participle to talk about speculation, deduction, possibility, impossibility, and regret regarding past events. Examples are provided for how each past modal verb is used.

Uploaded by

Andrea Morales
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PAST MODALS

A past modal verb implies talking about something that was possible, permitted, obligated or able to be
done, but it didn’t actually happen.

might
could
verb in past
may have
must participle
should

*These verbs are combined with “have”+ a pp to create the past modal structure. Here is a list of some past
modal verbs:
1. …might+have+past participle =“It is To speculate about the past:
probable that…” I don´t know, my child may have missed the
school bus.
He should be an hour by now. He may have been
delayed by a traffic jam or something. (Strong
possibility)

*Might when some past event seems


probable but we aren't absolutely sure it
happened that way.
The thieves might have escaped by car but we can't
be sure. (Weak possibility)

To make a guess about a situation.


I can't find my wallet. I might have left it in the
supermarket but I just don't know. (It is probable
that I´ve left the it there, but it might be somewhere
else too.)
* It is more common than may.
It expresses less certainty compared to
must.

2. …could +have+ past participle = "It is possible To talk about something that was possible in the
that..." past, but you didn´t do it/it didn´t happen.
He could have got stuck in traffic.
You could have called the police to report the
assault.
He could have been seriously injured. Fortunately,
nothing happened.
*He can´t have written such paper on his own. (as a
synonym of couldn´t)
To make a recommendation about the past (it is
more appropriate that using should have+pp)
You could have texted me if you were running late.

3. …must+have + past participle = "I am To make a deduction about a past event. We feel
quite sure about it.
sure that..."
Where are my keys? I must have left them
in the office.
The thieves must have come in through the
window. Look – it's still open.
Oh no! Where's my car? Someone must
have stolen it!

It must have been love. (There is some


evidence)

4. …couldn´t have + pp= “It was not Impossible to happen in the past, even if
possible that…” you had wanted to do it.
I couldn´t have arrived any earlier. There
was a terrible traffic jam (it was impossible
for me to have arrived any earlier)
Can´t have+pp= To express disbelief about
something that was not possible or probable to
happen in the past based on present evidence.

He can´t have finished the tests so quickly. (It is


impossible he did it in the expected time)

I can't have left my wallet in the restaurant. – I


had it on the bus on the way home.

You can't have read the instructions properly.


They're perfectly clear.

5. ...should+have+ past participle = It was a Sorry about past decision


good idea…/it was a bad idea… I should have listened to my mother.
(regreat=mistake) I should have followed your advice, you were
right.
It was a good idea to do something, but it didn´t
happen.
You should have gone to the party last Friday, it
was fun.
It was a bad idea to do something, but it still
happened.
I shouldn´t have gone to that party last
Saturday.

Pictures taken from [Link]


modal-verbs/

Exercises
1. [Link]
2. [Link]
must-have-cant-have-couldnt-have-may-have
3. [Link]

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