modal verbs

You are not allowed to take photos in the museum.

• You may take photos in the museum.

• You should take photos in the museum.

• You mustn’t take photos in the museum.

• You needn’t take photos in the museum.

I’m certain that Joe attended the ceremony as he can vividly recount the event.

• Joe could have attended the ceremony as he can vividly recount the event.

• Joe must have attended the ceremony as he can vividly recount the event.

• Joe mightn’t have attended the ceremony as he can vividly recount the event.

• Joe needn’t have attended the ceremony as he can vividly recount the event.

. I thought it was not necessary to book tickets for the film in advance, but I was wrong.

• I needn’t have booked tickets for the film in advance.

  
  

• I couldn’t have booked tickets for the film in advance.

• I should have booked tickets for the film in advance.

• I must have booked tickets for the film in advance.

  
  

I’m sure that they had practiced hard for the games as they won a lot of medals

• They couldn’t have practiced hard for the games as they won a lot of medals

• They must have practiced hard for the games as they won a lot of medals

• They shouldn’t have practiced hard for the games as they won a lot of medals

• They might have practiced hard for the games as they won a lot of medals.

It was wrong of you to criticise your son in front of his friends.

• You could have criticised your son in front of his friends.

• You must have criticised your son in front of his friends.

• You mightn’t have criticised your son in front of his friends.

• You shouldn’t have criticised your son in front of his friends.

I’m sure Luisa was very disappointed when she failed the exam.

• Luisa must be very disappointed when she failed the exam.

• Luisa must have been very disappointed when she failed the exam.

• Luisa may be very disappointed when she failed the exam.

• Luisa could have been very disappointed when she failed the exam.

I really believe my letter came as a great surprise to John.

• John might be very surprised to receive my letter.

• John might have been very surprised to receive my letter.

• John must be very surprised to receive my letter.

• John must have been very surprised to receive my letter.

Sally paid for her travel in advance, but it wasn’t necessary.

• Sally needn’t have paid for her travel in advance.

• Sally might not have paid for her travel in advance.

• Sally may not have paid for her travel in advance.

• Sally couldn’t have paid for her travel in advance.

You needn’t have taken so many warm clothes there.

• It was not necessary for you to take so many warm clothes there.

• You have taken so many warm clothes there that I don’t need.

• There’s no need for you to take so many warm clothes there.

• You took lots of warm clothes there but it turned out not necessary.

Mary should never have been allowed to try to swim in the sea alone.

• When Mary let to swim in the sea alone, she said new what she was doing.

• It would probably be wrong to let Mary swims in the sea on her own.

• No one could have stopped Mary from trying to swim in the sea by herself.

• Someone ought to have stopped Mary from attempting to swim in the sea on her own.