Modals (in the Present and Past)

What did I do wrong?

• You shouldn't have connected these two wires.

• You didn't have to connect these two wires.

Why is the dog barking?

• It should have heard something.

• It must have heard something.

Why are you home so early?

• I needn't have worked this afternoon.

• I didn't have to work this afternoon.

Why did you worry about me? I didn't take any risks.

• You must have been injured.

• You could have been injured.

You forgot my birthday again!

• Sorry, I should have looked in my diary.

• Sorry, I had to look in my diary.

We had a terrible crossing on the boat in a storm.

• That didn't have to be very pleasant.

• That can't have been very pleasant.

Where were you yesterday? You didn't turn up.

• I had to go to London.

• I must have gone to London.

What do you think about the election?

• The Freedom Party had to win.

• The Freedom Party should have won.

There's a lot of food left over from the party, isn't there?

• Yes, you couldn't have made so many sandwiches.

• Yes, you needn't have made so many sandwiches.

What do you think has happened to Tony.

• I don't know, he should have got lost.

• I don't know, he might have got lost.