Modals in The Past

Modals in the Past
can't have didn't need to might not have could had to must have could have may have needn't have would have couldn't may not have ought not to have would not couldn't have might have ought to have
should have shouldn't have
certainty
can't have
e.g. I can't have lost my keys! (I'm sure I didn't)
permission
could
e.g. When I was a teenager, I could go out as late as I wanted. general ability e.g. Tom could walk by the age of 8 months.
possibility, but did not happen
could have
e.g. I could have passed my driving test if I'd really tried. uncertainty e.g. I guess it could have been Sandra on the phone.
permission
couldn't
e.g. When I was a teenager, I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted. general ability e.g. I couldn't walk until I was 2. ability in a particular situation e.g. I tried hard but I couldn't persuade him to go to the party with us.
possibility/ability
couldn't have
e.g. I couldn't possibly have passed my driving test, even if I'd tried harder. uncertainty e.g. It couldn't have been Sandra on the phone, could it? with comparative adjectives e.g. I couldn't have asked for better weather on my wedding day. unwillingness e.g. I couldn't have left the dog in the car for long (so I didn't).
unnecessary action not done
didnt need to
e.g. As I was alone this weekend, I didn't need to do any cooking (so I didn't).
obligation (past form of must)
had to
e.g. I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.
uncertainty
may have
e.g. I guess I may have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.
uncertainty
may not have
e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.
might have
possibility (didn't happen) e.g. You might have been killed! uncertainty e.g. I guess I might have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late. annoyance at someone's failure to do something e.g. You might have told me that you had invited all your colleagues round for dinner! might have known + would (idiom to ironically express that somebody's action was typical) e.g. I might have known that he would finish with me as soon as he found out I wasn't wealthy!
uncertainty
might not have
e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.
certainty
must have
e.g. He must have known how much it was going to cost. (I'm sure he knew.) with surely in exclamations e.g. Surely he must have known how much it was going to cost!
unnecessary action that was actually done
needn't have
e.g. Oh, you needn't have done the washing up!
ought not to have
criticism (more common is shouldn't have) e.g. You ought not to have been so frank with him.
expectation (should have is more common)
ought to have
Why is she late? She ought to have arrived by now!
expectation
should have
Why is she late? She should have arrived by now! should have + verbs of thinking e.g. I should have thought you knew. with be and adjectives, describing chance e.g. It was weird that you should have been staying in the same hostel last month. criticism (you didn't do something, but it would have been the right thing to do) e.g. The party was such fun last night! You should have come!
criticism
shouldn't have
e.g. You shouldn't have been so frank with him. polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour "Here's a bottle of wine for you" "Oh, you really shouldn't have!"
events in the past that did not happen
would have
e.g. I wouldn't have gone out with him, but he didn't ask me. assumptions e.g. Oh, that would have been Sarah on the phone just now.
unwillingness
would not
e.g. I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it.
Modals deduction past

Modals deduction (past) In the same way that we use modal verbs to say how certain we are about things in the present we can also use them to speculate about the past.
Have + past participle (have done, have been have stolen etc.) is called the perfect infinitive. When we use modal verbs to talk about the present they are followed by an infinitive without to. When we use modal verbs to talk about the past they are followed by a perfect infinitive. must + perfect infinitive We use must + perfect infinitive when we feel sure about something in the past.

You must have been delighted when you heard youd won the lottery. The thieves must have come in through the window. Look its still open. Oh no! Wheres my car? Someone must have stolen it!
might/may/could + perfect infinitive We use might, may or could with the perfect infinitive to say that we think something was possible but we arent sure.

The thieves might have escaped by car but we cant be sure. He should be hour by now. He may have been delayed by a traffic jam or something. I cant find my purse. I could have left it in the supermarket but I just dont know.
cant + perfect infinitive We use cant + perfect infinitive when we feel sure something didnt happen in the past.

I thought I saw John in town this morning but it cant have been him hes in Greece this week. I cant have left it in the supermarket I had it on the bus on the way home. You cant have read the instructions properly. Theyre perfectly clear.

Modals in The Past

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Modals in The Past

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Modals in the Past

should have shouldn't have

e.g. I can't have lost my keys! (I'm sure I didn't)

possibility, but did not happen

unnecessary action not done

obligation (past form of must)

e.g. I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.

may not have

might not have

unnecessary action that was actually done

e.g. Oh, you needn't have done the washing up!

ought not to have

expectation (should have is more common)

Why is she late? She ought to have arrived by now!

events in the past that did not happen

e.g. I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it.

Modals deduction past

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