MASTERING PERFECT MODALS 1

PERFECT MODALS

Mastering Perfect Modals helps you to be more fluent.

Grammar Explanation

• We can use modal verbs for deduction – guessing if something is true using the available information. The modal verb we choose shows how certain we are about the possibility. This page focuses on making deductions about the past.

MUST HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

• We use must have + past participle when we feel sure about what happened.

• FOR EXAMPLES:

• The thief must have had a key. The door was locked and nothing was broken.

• Who told the newspapers about the prime minister's plans? It must have been someone close to him.

MIGHT/MAY HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

• We can use might have or may have + past participle when we think it's possible that something happened. 

• FOR EXAMPLES:

• I think I might have left the air conditioning on. Please can you check?

• Police think the suspect may have left the country using a fake passport.

CAN'T/COULDN'T HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

• We use can't have and couldn't have + past participle when we think it's not possible that something happened.

• FOR EXAMPLES:

• She can't have driven there. Her car keys are still here.

• I thought I saw Adnan this morning but it couldn't have been him – he's in Greece this week.

SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

• We use should have and would have + past participle to talk about imagined situation in the past.

• We use should have to express advice the past (it implies the correct action was not done).

• We use would have to suggest an alternative to the action taken

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For examples:

• You should have sent a birthday card. (=You didn't send a card and that was a mistake.)

• You shouldn't have been late. (=You were late and that was a mistake.)

• Why did you go to France? I would have gone to Italy. (=In the same situation, I would have done something different.)

Multiple Choice

We _____ so many people to our party! I'm worried that we won't have enough room for everyone. (past negative advice / regret)

• must have invited

• couldn't have invited

• shouldn't have invited

Multiple Choice

The weather _____ any worse! (past negative possibility)

• mustn't have been

• couldn't have been

• shouldn't have been

Multiple Choice

Amanda _____ the work, but she felt ill and had to go home. (past willingness)

• must have finished

• couldn't have finished

• would have finished

Multiple Choice

You _____ rude to him. He's going to be really angry now. (past negative advice / regret)

• shouldn't have been

• couldn't have been

• mustn't have been

Multiple Choice

They _____ kinder to me. They were absolutely lovely. (past negative possibility)

• shouldn't have been

• couldn't have been

• mustn't have been

Multiple Choice

Choose the best sentence to describe the pictures.

• The man should have shaved his beard.

• The man may have shaved his beard.

• The man must have shaved his beard.

Multiple Choice

Choose the best sentence to describe the pictures.

• They shouldn't have painted their house themselves.

• They couldn't have painted their house themselves.

• They may have painted their house themselves.