Modal perfects

4 Which pairs of sentences have the same meaning?

Put a tick (✓) if they are the same or a cross (✗) if

they are different.
They must have finished school by now.

They should have finished school by now. ✗

1 She might have forgotten his birthday.
She may have forgotten his birthday.
2 They could have gone to the cinema.
They must have gone to the cinema.
3 I could have left it on the bus.
I may have left it on the bus.
4 It can’t have disappeared.
It may have disappeared.
5 He should have gone to university.
He could have gone to university.
6 He couldn’t have come by train.
He shouldn’t have come by train.
7 We ought to have helped our parents.
We should have helped our parents.
5 Choose A, B or C to complete the sentences.
I feel sick! I A eaten so much chocolate.
A shouldn’t have B couldn’t have C must have
1 The road is very wet. It rained in the night.
A should have B may have C must have
2 The students are laughing. The teacher said
something funny.
A could have B should have C can’t have
3 The man wasn’t wearing a uniform. He been a
policeman.
A can’t have B mustn’t have C may not have
4 Dan took them to the station an hour before the train
left.
They missed it.
A mustn’t have B might not have C couldn’t have
5 My mum’s beautiful vase is broken. She thinks the cat
knocked it over.
A should have B may have C can’t have
6 My dad has false teeth. He eaten so many
sweets when he was younger.
A shouldn’t have B couldn’t have C mustn’t have
7 The hall was crowded with people, so he been
there.
A mustn’t have B can’t have C might have