PERFECT MODAL VERBS FORM: USE:
rd
Modal verb + HAVE + Participle (VReg +ed / VIrr 3 column)
Deductions, opinions or comments about events that happened in the past.
PRACTICAL SITUATIONS 1.
The speaker is certain that something happened or was true. MUST HAVE: She must have studied a lot. Her exam is excellent.
2.
The speaker guesses that something was possible or true. MAY HAVE: He may have gone out. He doesn’t answer the phone. MIGHT HAVE: She might have forgotten to throw the rubbish out.
3.
The speaker thinks something was possible, but it didn’t happen in the end. COULD HAVE: You could have passed the exam. MIGHT HAVE: You might have had an accident.
4.
The speaker is sure that something didn’t happen. CAN’T HAVE: She can’t have finished. It’s too early. COULDN’T HAVE: They couldn’t have predicted the tornado.
5.
Something happened, but it was not necessary. NEEDN’T HAVE: You needn’t have brought a gift.
6.
The speaker regrets something that happened. SHOULD HAVE / OUGHT TO HAVE: You should have / ought to have called me earlier. SHOULDN’T HAVE: He shouldn’t have bought this car. It’s too old.
7. The speaker desired to do something, but it couldn’t be done. WOULD HAVE: I would have gone to the demonstration, but I was very busy.
PRACTICE ON MODAL VERBS AND MODAL PERFECTS 1 Complete the sentences with the modal verbs in the box. can • must (x2) • can’t • could • should • couldn’t • may • have to (x2) • will be able to • need
He’s not coming rafting because he ___ swim.
___ I use your phone, please?
I wanted to watch a film, but I ___ make the DVD
Sssh, stop talking! You ___ make noise.
player work. I ___ play guitar, but not well enough to play in your band. Wendy ___ relax as soon as her exams finish next week. Oliver ___ solve difficult maths problems when he was really young.
If you feel bad, you ___ lie down and take a rest. He can go home now. He ___ stay here. If I cook, then Caroline ___ do the washing-up. You ___ stop spending the whole day on the internet. It’s not healthy! You ___ come with us if you don’t want to.
2 Choose the correct option to complete the text. If you’re going camping in the mountains, you may / must make some preparations. First, you should / needn’t think about yourself: are you fit enough? Go for a walk with your rucksack on your back. If it’s too heavy for you on fl at land, you don’t have to / mustn’t try to carry it up a mountain! But if you’re young and healthy, you’re probably fit enough. Take a light tent and a sleeping bag, but remember that the sleeping bag shouldn’t / needs to be warm enough for mountain nights. You’ll must / have to carry a map and a compass and some cooking equipment, too. And it’s not a bad idea to carry a whistle. If you get lost, you will be able to / can make a loud noise so that people can find you. Finally, you can’t / must always have enough water. Last year, I had to / must come back down a mountain late one evening because I didn’t have water for the next morning!
3 Write the answers using the prompts and perfect modals. How did he earn so much money? He / must / get / good job. Where did she meet her boyfriend? They / might / meet / on holiday. Why do you think he’s so tired? He / can’t / sleep / much. Do you think I bought the right shirt? No. / You / should / buy / the green one. He doesn’t look very happy, does he? He / shouldn’t / split up / his girlfriend.
4 Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb of advice or obligation in the correct form. Smoking is not allowed here. You ___ It would be a good idea to see a doctor. You ___ It is absolutely necessary that you come home. You ___ It is not necessary for you to stay here any longer. You ___ I don’t think it’s a good idea to eat ice cream every day. You ___ I’m thirsty and it’s necessary that I drink something. I ___
5 Complete the dialogue with can’t, can’t have, could have, must, must have, should, shouldn’t have, might have and the correct form of the verbs. ANDY:
Why didn’t Hannah come to the concert with us yesterday?
TIM:
I don’t know. She ___ (forget).
ANDY:
She ___ (forget) – she’s been talking about it for weeks!
TIM:
Why didn’t you call her? You ___ (check) with her last night.
ANDY:
What? You’re her boyfriend! You ___ (call) her!
TIM:
Yes, you’re right. I’ll call her now. Hmm, no answer. Where is she?
ANDY:
Doesn’t she go swimming on Saturday mornings?
TIM:
Yes, you’re right, she ___ (be) in the pool. Hey, how do you know so much about her?
ANDY:
Well, maybe you ___ (leave) her alone all last weekend with nobody to talk to but me! She ___ (feel) very lonely, because she didn’t stop talking to me.
TIM:
Oh dear. She ___ (be) very happy with me. But I’m not happy with her either, so maybe it’s all for the best.