MODALS IN PAST

1. MODALS IN PAST INTERMEDIATE CLASS

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

3. Could • Permission 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.

4. Could have • Possibility, but did not happen 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.

5. Couldn't • Permission 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.

6. Couldn't have • Possibility/ability 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).

7. Didn’t need to • unnecessary action not done e.g. As I was alone this weekend, I didn't need to do any cooking (so I didn't).

8. May have • Uncertainty e.g. I guess I may have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.

9. Had to • Obligation (past form of must) e.g. I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.

10. May not have • Uncertainty e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

11. 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!

12. Might not have • Uncertainty e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

13. Must have • Certainty 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!

14. Ought not to have • Criticism (more common is shouldn't have) e.g. You ought not to have been so frank with him.

15. Ought to have • Expectation (should have is more common) e.g. Why is she late?  She ought to have arrived by now!

16. Needn't have • Unnecessary action that was actually done  e.g.  Oh, you needn't have done the washing up!

17. Should have • Expectation e.g. 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!

18. Shouldn't have • Criticism e.g. You shouldn't have been so frank with him. • Polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour. e.g. "Here's a bottle of wine for you" "Oh, you really shouldn't have!"

19. Would not • unwillingness e.g. I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it.

20. Would have • Events in the past that did not happen 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.