PAST MODALS
We use past modals to express a possibility in the past and to give advice or a suggestion to a past
situation.
We have the following chart according to probability or according to the amount of information we
have.
WOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (the most like thing we would do if certain condition had
been meant in the past).
COULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (something that had a reasonable probability to
happen in the past if certain condition had met).
MIGHT HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (something that had a very remote probability to
have happened in the past if certain condition had been met).
SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (we use this structure when we give advice for a
past situation or to give our personal point of view about a past situation).
MUST HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE (we use this structure to affirm something that we take
for granted happened, base on information or to give a logical statement).
we use the contracted form especially when in speech.
WOULD'VE
COULD'VE
MIGHT'VE
SHOULD'VE
The structure is as follows:
SUBJECT + MODAL VERB + HAVE + VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENTIZER
Examples of possibilities in the past:
Peter went to the party. (100% sure)
Peter must have gone to the party because he wanted to go and he isn’t at home now. (100% possibility)
In the first example, the speaker is 100% certain that Peter is at the party even though no
reason was given. In the second example, the speaker is not completely certain, but they
have a very strong reason to believe what they are saying.
The launch of the rocket was called off because something happened to the engine. (100% sure)
Something could/might/may have happened to the engine of the rocket because they
called the launch off. (50% possibility)
In the first example, the speaker is absolutely certain why the rocket launch was called off. Maybe there
was confirmation by the scientists or flight engineers. In the second example, the speaker doesn’t have
enough information of why the launch was called off, they are only speculating.
Ralph wasn’t at the meeting because he called and said he had problems with his car. (100% sure)
Ralph wasn’t at the meeting because he could/might/may have had problems with his car. (50%
possibility.) In the first example, the speaker is certain of what happened to Ralph because they spoke
to Ralph directly. In the following example, they are only guessing what happened to Ralph.
Examples of suggestions or advice regarding a past situation. In this case we only use the
modal verbs should, ought to and could.
The structure is as follows:
SUBJECT + MODAL VERB + HAVE + VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE + COMPLEMENT
Situation 1:
Your friend took his father’s car without permission. They got into an accident with the car.
You tell your friend, “You shouldn’t have taken your father’s car without his permission.”
Situation 2:
My friends wanted to go to the beach, but the roads were a mess from the heavy rains. Now
they are sad because they are having a boring weekend.
I would say to them, “You guys could have gone to the mountains instead.”
Situation 3:
My friend’s briefcase was in their car. Now it has disappeared.
I would say to them, “You ought to have taken it with you.”
Note: With the modal verb “ought to” you must use “to”.
Get Smart! Quiz A
Select the correct form of the modal verb plus the present perfect tense to complete the
sentences. Pay attention to the subject of the sentence.
1. My mother _______________ she was sick.
a. should have told b. should have tell c. should has tell
2. You ________________ the exam.
a. should have finish b. should have finishing c. should have finished
3. They ______________ to our party. They certainly had the time.
a. could have came b. could have come c. could have coming
4. You _______________ so early.
a. Shouldn’t have come b. shouldn’t have came c. shouldn’t have coming
5. He ________________ to the movies. He asked if I wanted to go with him.
a. might have gone b. might had gone c. might have went
6. We ________________ the game if we had played better.
a. could had won b. could have win c. could have won
7. I ________________ really distracted when I made that mistake.
a. must have being b. must had been c. must have been
8. You _______________ the job. It sounds really good.
a. should have taken b. should had taken c. should have took
9. He _________________ lost. We’ve been waiting for him for a long time.
a. must have getting b. must have gotten c. must had got
10. You _________________ your father’s car without his permission.
a. shouldn’t have taken b. shouldn’t have took c. shouldn’t had taken
11. We ________________ that bus. It is the last one according to the schedule.
a. should have taken b. should have take c. should have took
12. It _________________ love, but it is over now.
a. Must have being b. must have been c. must had been
13. We _________________ more of this wine. It is really good.
a. should have buy b. should had bought c. should have bought
14. They ________________ by plane. It is faster than the bus.
a. Should have come b. should had came c. should have coming
15. I __________________ the contest if you hadn’t entered.
a. could have won b. could have win c. could had won
16. She _______________ fired for the mistake she made.
a. might have get b. might have gotten c. might had gotten
17. They _______________ that comment.
a. shouldn’t have make. b. shouldn’t have making c. shouldn’t have made
18. They ________________ to cancel their appointment.
a. could had call b. could have called c. could have call
19. He __________________ his job without telling his family.
a. shouldn’t have quit b. shouldn’t have quited c. shouldn’t had quit
20. You _________________ me know where you were going. I was worried about you.
a. could had letting b. could have letted c. could have let