PERFECT MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs can be used with the present perfect tense. This indicates that some past action did or did not happen, or it possibly did or did not happen. This is very commonly used to talk about the past.
Form:
The Perfect modal tense in English is composed of two parts:
1. Modal verb (must, can, should, etc)
2. Present perfect tense: have + past participle.
Function:
1. Must + have + past participle: it expresses deduction in the past. Example: Mary is very sensitive. She must have passed a bad time when her child got sick. 2. Can't + have + past participle: It expresses impossibility (negative deduction) in the past. Example: Mary is very sensitive. She can't have passed a good time when her child got sick. 3. Should (not) + have + past participle: it expresses regret about something we did wrong in the past. Example: You should have apologized your parents but you did not pay attention to me. You shouldn't have gone so early last night. * It can also express probability about something we expected to happen but we are not sure if it has already happened. Example: They should have arrived by now, but I don't know if they have. * Or to express that the expected action has not ocurred in fact. Example: They should have arrived but they are not here yet. 4. Could + have + past participle: a possible action in the past that was not fullfilled. Example: I could have passed my exam but I didn't study enough. Note: compare it with this: I couldn't study so I didn't study enough. 5. May/might + have + past participle: it expresses possibility in the past. Example: I have been phoning John all afternoon and he was not there. He may have left home earlier. (Maybe, he left before) * We can also express possibility about somenthing that didn't really happened in the past (Only with might). Example: Why did you drive so fast? You might have crashed. 6. Needn't + have + past participle: it says that we did something although it was not necessary to be done. Example: You needn't have come. Why have you done it? Note: compare it with this: You didn't need to come, so you didn't do it.
1. Must + have + past participle: it expresses deduction in the past.
Example: Mary is very sensitive. She must have passed a bad time when her child got sick.
Example:
Mary is very sensitive. She must have passed a bad time when her child got sick.
2. Can't + have + past participle: It expresses impossibility (negative deduction) in the past.
Example: Mary is very sensitive. She can't have passed a good time when her child got sick.
Mary is very sensitive. She can't have passed a good time when her child got sick.
3. Should (not) + have + past participle: it expresses regret about something we did wrong in the past.
Example: You should have apologized your parents but you did not pay attention to me. You shouldn't have gone so early last night.
You should have apologized your parents but you did not pay attention to me.
You shouldn't have gone so early last night.
* It can also express probability about something we expected to happen but we are not sure if it has already happened.
Example: They should have arrived by now, but I don't know if they have.
They should have arrived by now, but I don't know if they have.
* Or to express that the expected action has not ocurred in fact.
Example: They should have arrived but they are not here yet.
They should have arrived but they are not here yet.
4. Could + have + past participle: a possible action in the past that was not fullfilled.
Example: I could have passed my exam but I didn't study enough.
I could have passed my exam but I didn't study enough.
Note: compare it with this:
I couldn't study so I didn't study enough.
5. May/might + have + past participle: it expresses possibility in the past.
Example: I have been phoning John all afternoon and he was not there. He may have left home earlier. (Maybe, he left before)
I have been phoning John all afternoon and he was not there. He may have left home earlier. (Maybe, he left before)
* We can also express possibility about somenthing that didn't really happened in the past (Only with might).
Example: Why did you drive so fast? You might have crashed.
Why did you drive so fast? You might have crashed.
6. Needn't + have + past participle: it says that we did something although it was not necessary to be done.
Example: You needn't have come. Why have you done it?
You needn't have come. Why have you done it?
You didn't need to come, so you didn't do it.
QUESTION: Complete the following sentences with the right perfect modal verb:
1. Doug _________________ the video we rented on his way to work. It was on the table, but now it's gone.2. If I had gone with my friends to Jamaica, I _______________ scuba diving lessons.3. It ___________________ Sam who called and didn't leave a message on the answering machine. He said he wanted to get together with us this weekend.