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Understanding Perfect Modals in English

This document summarizes the uses of various modal verbs with perfect forms to talk about past possibilities, regrets, logical conclusions, and impossibilities. It explains that "would have" is used for the third conditional and talking about unfulfilled desires. "Could have" shows ability or opportunity not taken. "May/might have" expresses weak past possibility. "Must have" conveys strong logical conclusions. "Should/shouldn't have" discusses unfulfilled obligations and regrets. "Can't have" indicates certainty that something did not occur.

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Audrey Tamara
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18 views7 pages

Understanding Perfect Modals in English

This document summarizes the uses of various modal verbs with perfect forms to talk about past possibilities, regrets, logical conclusions, and impossibilities. It explains that "would have" is used for the third conditional and talking about unfulfilled desires. "Could have" shows ability or opportunity not taken. "May/might have" expresses weak past possibility. "Must have" conveys strong logical conclusions. "Should/shouldn't have" discusses unfulfilled obligations and regrets. "Can't have" indicates certainty that something did not occur.

Uploaded by

Audrey Tamara
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

PERFECT

MODALS
WOULD HAVE
We use would have +past participle to:
1: Part of the third conditional.
If I had had enough money, I would have bought a car (but
I didn't have enough money, so I didn't buy a car).
2. to talk about something you wanted to do but didn't.
This is very similar to the third conditional, but we don't
need an 'if clause'. I would have gone to the party, but I
was really busy.
(= I wanted to go to the party, but I didn't because I was
busy. If I hadn't been so busy, I would have gone to the
party.)
•I would have called you, but I didn't know your number.
(= I wanted to call you but I didn't know your number, so I
COULD HAVE
We use could have +past participle to:
show we had the ability or the opportunity to
do something in the past but we did not do it.
-I could have studied law at university, but I
didn’t want to.
 show a suggestion that was not taken
-You could have asked for our help or you
could have asked the manager to assign you to
a different task. Why didn’t you?
show an action that almost happened,
but didn’t.
Be careful! That car could have knocked you
MAY/ MIGHT HAVE
We use may/might have +past participle to:
•express a weak possibility in the past.
-I don’t know where I lost my umbrella. I
might have left it on the train. I might
have dropped it. Or I might have left
it at the shop. I really don’t know.
Student 1: “Why didn’t Jon come to school
yesterday?”
Student 2: “Well, he might have decided
to stay at home. Or he might have spent
the day playing video games. He might
even have slept all day! You know how he
MUST HAVE
We use must have + past participle to :
•show we are almost sure something
happened in the past. (past logical
conclusions)
• A: John was terribly tired yesterday
and when I called him last night, he
didn’t answer the phone.
B: He must have fallen asleep.
•A: Some villagers were trapped on the
mountain for a week.
B: Oh. They must have been very
hungry when they came back!
SHOULD HAVE /SHOULDN’T HAVE
We use should/shouldn’t have + Past participle to :
•talk about Unfulfilled obligations in the past.
•talk about regrets.

-I failed the test. I should have studied more than I


guess.
-You should have returned the book to the library on time.
Now, you have to pay a fine.
-You should have let your daughter marry with the man
she loved. She’s so unhappy now.
-You shouldn’t have spoiled your son like this. Now he
is out of control.
CAN’T HAVE
We use can’t have +past participle to:
•show that we are almost sure something did
not happen in the past/ impossibilities.
- She can’t have forgotten to send you an
invitation. You are her best friend and, besides, I
saw your name on the list.
-You can’t have seen Tom at the mall
yesterday. He is in hospital and is very
sick.

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