How to use modals in perfect

2. WHAT ARE PERFECT MODALS?
COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
MAY / MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING
MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING
SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
CAN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING

3. W RD RDER:

4. COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To show we had the ability or opportunity to do something in the past but we
didn’t do.
I could have studied law at university, but I didn’t want to.
To show a suggestion that was not taken.
You could have asked for our help or you could have asked the manager to assign
you to a different task.Why didn’t you?
To show an action that almost happened, but didn’t.
Be careful!That car could have knocked you over!!

5. To show we had the ability to do something in the
past but did NOT do it
Joan and Larry could have
come with us
but they
decided not to.

6. MAY / MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use MAY / MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To Express a weak possibility in the past.
I don’t know where I have lost my umbrella. I might have left it on the train. I might
have dropped it. Or I might have left it at the bus stop.
A:Why didn’t John come to school yesterday?
B:Well, he might have decided to stay at home. Or he might have spent the day. He
might even have slept all day.You know how he is.

7. To show we are guessing about something
that happened in the past
I didn’t see Bob yesterday.
He may/might
/could have
been ill.

8. MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To Show we are almost sure something happened in the past.
A: John was terribly tired yesterday and when I called him last night, he didn’t
answer the phone.
B: He must have fallen asleep.
A: Some villagers trapped on the mountain for a week.
B: Oh!They must have been very hungry when they came back.

9. To show we are
He must have
felt happy
when he
graduated.
sure about something that
happened in the past

10. SHOULD / SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE
We use SHOULD / SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To talk about unfulfilled obligations in the past.
I failed the test. I should have studied more I guess.
You should have returned the book to library on time. Now you have to pay a fine.
To talk about regrets.
You should have let your daughter marry the man she loved. She’s so unhappy now.
You shouldn’t have spoiled your son like this. Now he is out of control.

11. To say that somebody didn’t
do something he/she was
supposed to or did
something that he/she
wasn’t supposed to
He should
Have been
more
careful!

12. CAN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use CAN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To show that we are almost sure something did NOT happen in the past /
impossibilities.
She can’t have forgotten to send you an invitation.You are her best friend and
besides, I saw your name on the list.
You can’t have seenTom at the mall yesterday. He is in hospital and is very ill.
A: I saw M. K. Atatürk when I was a child.
B:You can’t have seen him. He died long before you were born.

13. To show we are certain about something that
did NOT happen in the past
He can’t have been at the
party last night.
He flew to Paris
two days ago.

14. EXERCISES: Fill the blanks using a perfect modal.
1. We are lost because we don’t have a map.You _____________________ (ask) for
directions the last time we stopped for gas.
2. A:Turkish athletes won five medals at 1980 Olympic Games. B:They
_________________________ (win)!!!They didn’t participate in 1980 Olympics.
3. Why did you walk all the way to the station?You _____________________ (miss)
the bus.
4. Your flat looks great.You _____________________ (spend) a lot money on
decoration.
SHOULD HAVE ASKED
CAN’T HAVE WON
MUST HAVE MISSED
MUST HAVE SPENT