Past Modal Verbs

 

Modal verbs in the past are used to:

1. Talk about a possibility

2. Express a regret

3. Express disbelief

4. Make a recommendation or criticism.

The most frequent use of modal verbs in the past is to talk about past situations that were possible but did not happen. In other words, they tell us what could have, would have and should have happened.

Let’s learn how “must”, “could”, “would’, “should’, “may” and “might” are used in the past.

These modal verbs are used with “have’ + past participle (v3) to talk about supposition or speculation regarding a past event.

 

Must have:

We use must have + past participle (v3) when we feel sure about what happened.

Examples:

1. The dog has escaped – I must have left the door open by mistake.

2. Lisa has left her handbag here – she must have left in a hurry.

3. It must have been difficult for him to live alone for so many years.

 

To form the negative, use “not” between “must” and “have”.

Examples:

1. It must not have been difficult for him.

2. She must not have done the dishes.

 

 

Could have:

We use could have + past participle (v3) to express that something was possible in the past but it did not happen.

Examples:

1. I could have gone directly to the college, but I decided to travel for a year.

2. He could have helped me, but he didn’t.

3. We could have left the party earlier.

 

To form the negative, use “not” between “could” and “have”.

Examples:

1. I couldn’t have said it better myself.

2. I couldn’t have done it without you.

 

Would have:

We use would have + past participle (v3) to show that you wanted to do something, but you could not.

Examples:

1. I would have called, but there was no phone service.

2. I would have lent you the money, but I didn’t have any myself.

3. I would have gone to the party, but I was tired.

 

The negative “would not have’ is part of the third conditional sentence.

Example: If I had not studied hard, I wouldn’t have passed the examination.

 

 

Should Have:

We use should have + past participle (v3) to mean that something did not happen, but we wish it had happened.

Examples:

1. I should have woken up earlier.

2. You should have helped her.

3. They should have come on time.

 

To form the negative, use “not” between “should” and “have”.

Examples:

1. You should not have slapped him.

2. He should not have done it.

 

May Have / Might Have:

We use “may have” or “might have” when we think it’s possible that something happened.

Examples:

1. I think I may have left the air conditioning on.

2. Police think the suspect may have left the country using a fake passport.

3. The car came around the corner so fast that I might have been killed.

 

Note: “May have” is more formal than “might have”.

 

 

 

 

To form the negative, use “not” between “may/might” and “have”.

Examples:

1. He may not have eaten the apples.

2. They might not have understood the message.

 

Modal Perfect Continuous:

We use the modal perfect continuous tense for speculations about a continuous action in the past.

Example: No one knows why he crashed the car. He may have been drinking and driving.