The document discusses the usage of perfect modal verbs including: must have, can't have, may/might/could have, could have/couldn't have, should have, would have, and will have. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used to express certainty, possibility, ability, expectations, desires, and future completion when referring to past actions or situations.

1. PERFECT MODAL VERBS
by Esther Curiel

2. Must have done/
Mustn’t have done
• Certainty that something
happened / didn’t happen.
• When we draw logical
conclusions.

3. Must have done/
Mustn’t have done

4. Can’t have done
• Certainty sth didn’t happen.

5. Can’t have done
She can’t have eaten it all!..

6. May/ Might/ Could have done
• A guess about a past action.

7. May/ Might/ Could have done
He might
have
prepared
the soup in
the
microwave.

8. Could have done/
Couldn’t have done
• Ability to do sth in the past
which in the end wasn’t done.
• Certainty that sth didn’t
happen.

9. Could have done/
Couldn’t have done
She could
have
painted the
room the
week
before.

10. Should have done/
Shouldn’t have done
• When expectations were not
fulfilled.
• When sensible advise wasn’t
followed.
• To refer to a foolish past
action.

11. Should have done/
Shouldn’t have done
I’m broke now!
I should have
gone window-
shopping.

12. Would have done
• Desire to do sth in the past
which in fact could not be
done.

13. Would have done
I would
have
phoned
Peter if I’d
had his
number.

14. Will have done
• When we talk about an action
that will be completed by some
point in the future.

15. Will have done
• At 14.00 he will have finished
his lunch.

16. Joke: Should have done…