Modals in the past

Modals in the past

speculation

Speculating about past events

• MAY/MIGHT/COULD HAVE + past participle

• She might have left the keys in the car.

• My mum may have lost her purse in the shop.

• Donald Trump could have felt badly during his coronavirus sickness.

NEGATIVE form

• WE USE ONLY MAY/MIGHT NOT HAVE

• NOT COULD NOT HAVE!

• She did not phone me. She might not have had my number.

• He did not eat his dinner. He may not have been hungry.

LOGICAL DEDUCTIONS IN THE PAST

• we use MUST HAVE / CAN´T HAVE / COULDN´T HAVE

• You can´t have seen Luke in town. He lives abroad.

• You must have seen somebody who looks like him.

• I can´t have sent you the email. I haven´t been online for some time.

• Somebody must have used your account than.

CRITICISM OF PAST ACTIONS

• WE USE SHOULD/ SHOULDN´T HAVE

• You should have phoned her before you went out.

• You shouldn´t have spent all your money on shoes.

• You should have shaved before you went to the theatre.

• You shouldn´t have talked to my boyfriend.

Multiple Choice

Ben: I can´t find my camera.

Bill: _______________

Ben: Yes, maybe. Iĺl look there tomorrow.

• You should have kept it in a safe place.

• You might have left it at school.

• You couldn´t have lost it.

Multiple Choice

Alex: She didn´t get my email.

Kat: ________________

Alex: I´m sure I did. I checked before I sent it.

• You might have sent it to the wrong address.

• You should have sent it to a different address.

• You can´t have sent it to the right address.

Multiple Choice

Clare: My dad wasn´t answering my phone.

Liz: ________________

Clare: But he always has it.

• He should have been at work.

• He might not have gone to work.

• He can´t have taken his phone to work.

Multiple Choice

You look freezing. You ______worn a coat.

• should have

• might not have

• could have

Multiple Choice

Ask that question again, the teacher__________heard you.

• can´t have

• could have

• shouldn´t have

Multiple Choice

Jack is really upset. You ________laughed at him!

• may not have

• shouldn´t have

• can´t have

Multiple Choice

I sent you a postcard but you _________received it yet.

• may have

• might not have

• should have

Multiple Choice

Your phone is dead. You ________recharged it this morning.

• shouldn´t have

• might have

• should have

Multiple Choice

I can´t remember when I last saw you. Maybe it was last April or it ________been in summer.

• might have

• may not have

• should have

Multiple Choice

You__________invited Sam to your party. He´s a really nice guy.

• should not have

• can´t have

• should have

Fill in the Blank

Letś run for the bus. It ________left yet.

Poll

Do you understand this grammar?

• Yes, fully

• Yes, but sometimes I am not certain

• No, but I will do more exercise to improve

• No, I am lost