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 correct form of the modal verbs in the box. There may be more than one correct answer. can • must • could • should • may • have to • 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.
PRACTICE ON MODAL VERBS AND MODAL PERFECTS: KEY 1 Complete the sentences with the correct form of the modal verbs in the box. There is more than one correct answer.
can’t couldn’t can can / will be able to could / was able to / couldn’t can / could / may
mustn’t should can’t / doesn’t have to can / should / has to should / must / have to don’t have to / don’t need to
2 Choose the correct option to complete the text. must
should
mustn’t
needs to
have to
be able to
must
had to
3 Write the answers using the prompts and perfect modals.
He must have got a good job. They might have met on holiday. He can’t have slept much. No. You should have bought the green one. He shouldn’t have split up with his girlfriend.
4 Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb of advice or obligation in the correct form.
You must not smoke here. You should see a doctor. You must come home. You needn’t stay here any longer / You don’t have to stay here any longer. You shouldn’t eat ice cream every day. I need to drink something.
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.
must have forgotten can’t have forgotten could have checked should call must be shouldn’t have left might have felt can’t be