Past modals

come in two forms. The first type is the easiest and usually requires only a
simple word change:
I can drive.

(present ability)

I could drive when I was 16.

(past ability)

I have to go to California.

(present obligation)

I had to go to California.

(past obligation)

Lenny will pay tomorrow.

(future intention)

Lenny said he would pay tomorrow.

(future reported from the past)

Past modals with have + past participle

Some past modals can be formed by using have + the past participle of
the main verb immediately after the modal. (should have, could have, would
have, etc.)
When using past modals with have, special meanings need to be considered
(e.g. regrets about past action).
I should go to the funeral.

(I feel an obligation to go--

I should have gone to the funeral.

later.)

Lex might take Karen to the airport.

(I didn't go. Now I regret

Lex might have taken Karen to the airport.

it.)

Lex could have taken Karen to the airport.

(It's a future possibility.)

Lex would have taken Karen to the airport.

(He may be on his way

Otis didn't come to work yesterday.

there now.)

He had to take care of his children.

(Most likely he didn't.)

His children must have been sick.

(He didn't. He had an

My wife doesnt answer the phone. She may

excuse.)

(might, could) have gone shopping.

(past fact)

If I had gone to college, I could have gotten a

(past obligation)

better job.

(speculating about the

She could have won the gold medal if she

past)

hadnt fallen three times.

If we had arrived earlier, we would
have caught our flight.

I shouldnt have yelled at you yesterday.

Im sorry.

A. Choose the right option.

1. Our son promised to clean his room, but it is still messy. He
__________________________
A.

couldn't have cleaned it.

B.

couldn't to have cleaned it.

C.

can't clean it.

D.

cannot clean it.

2. My friend promised to pick me up at 7:00. It's now 7:25 and I don't

see him. He ___________
A.

must have forgotten.

B.

might be forgetting.

C.

might have forgotten.

D.

might forget.

3. The twins have guilty expressions on their faces. They

______________________________
A.

might have done something naughty.

B.

must do something naughty.

C.

must have done something naughty.

D.

might do something naughty.

4. My white shirt now has green streaks in it. I

_____________________________________
A.

must to wash it properly.

B.

must not have not washed it properly.

C.

can't have washed it properly.

D.

can't wash it properly.

5. Paul's class starts at 8:30. It's 8:45 and he's not here yet. He
__________________________
A.

must be sick.

B.

must have been sick.

C.

must have missed the bus.

D.

might have missed the bus.

6. My plants are dead. I ________________________________________________

A.

must give them more water.

B.

couldn't give them enough water.

C.

can't not have given them enough water.

D.

can't have given them enough water.

7. I don't know why he hasn't called me back. He

_____________________________________
A.

must have forgotten my number.

B.

might forget my number.

C.

might have forgotten my number.

D.

might be forgetting my number.

B. Fill in the missing verbs, please (Must have - Might have - Should
have - Can't have Could have)
1. John

gone on holiday. I saw him this morning downtown.

2. Nobody answered the phone at the clinic. It

3. I

revised more for my exams. I think I'll fail!

closed early.

4. Sarah looks really pleased with herself. She

passed her driving

test this morning.

5. I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You

told

me!
6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He

caught the wrong train.

7. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He

caught the correct train.

8. Don't lie to me that you were ill yesterday. You

been ill - Don

said you were at the ice hockey match last night.

9. I don't know where they went on holiday but they bought Euros before
they left so they
gone to France or Germany.

10. His number was busy all night - he

been on the phone

continuously for hours.

11. It

been Mickey I saw at the party. He didn't recognise me at all.