EXERCISES on perfect modals

Exercise 1: Must have - Might have - Should have - Can't have

1. John gone on holiday. I saw him this morning downtown.

2. Nobody answered the phone at the clinic. It closed early.

3. I revised more for my exams. I think I'll fail!

4. Sarah looks really pleased with herself. She passed her driving test this
morning.

5. I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You told me!

6. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He caught the wrong train.

7. I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He caught the correct train.

8. Don't lie to me that you were ill yesterday. You been ill - Don said you were at
the ice hockey match last night.

9. I don't know where they went on holiday but they bought Euros before they left so they
gone to France or Germany.

10. His number was busy all night - he been on the phone continuously for hours.

11. It been Mickey I saw at the party. He didn't recognize me at all.

Exercise 2:Directions: Complete each question or sentence with should have or could
have, and a main verb. (10 points)

For example: You ________ ________ __________ (be) more helpful to that elderly
woman. (advice)

  * should have = past advice, capability, or responsibility   /   * could have = past
possibility

1. I _________ _________ _________ (help) you last weekend if you had asked.
(possibility)

2. He _________ ________ ___________ (talk) to the doctor about his stomach pains.
(advice)
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3. _____________ they _________ ____________(do) all that work already? (possibility)

4. Maria __________ ___________ ____________ (eat) that whole pizza by herself--she

was so hungry! (possibility)

5. My students ___________ __________ __________ (finish) their assignment by now.

(capability)

6. ____________n't that company __________ ____________ (pay) their employees on

time? (responsibility)

7. Why ___________n't you __________ ___________ (meet) my earlier? Now we don't

have any time. (possibility)

8. The disaster ____________ never ___________ ________________(happen) . It was

preventable. (possibility)

9. President Bush __________ __________ ___________(tell) the American people they

needed to make more personal sacrifices once the Iraq War began. (responsibility)

10. You __________ __________ __________(be) able to complete the test within 60
minutes. (capability -- in this sentence, "complete" is the main verb. That means there are
seven words in the verb phrase!) 

Exercise 3: Directions: Complete each sentence or question with would have or should
have and a main verb. (10 points)

     * would have = past tense of will    /    * should have = past advice, capability, or
responsibility

1. If I had known you were coming, I _________ ___________ ____________ (make)

extra cookies.

2. We __________ _________ __________ (fix) the leak in the roof before the storm made
it worse.

3. You _________n't _________ __________ (go) into that strange house if it was empty.

4. It __________ _________ __________ (take) longer to get dinner made without your
help.

5. Before going to the beach, they _________ __________ __________(check) the weather
because it rained.

6. The doctor told her she __________ __________ ___________ (be) on a diet the last
few years.

7. The party _________ __________ ____________ (be) more fun if you were there.
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8. My friend __________ _________ _________ (make) a lot of money if he had sold his
stock in the company earlier.

9. I __________ __________ ____________ (do) anything just to spend a few more hours
with you.

10. They really ___________n't ___________ gotten _____________ (marry) so fast.

Exercise 4. Rewrite the following sentences without changing their meaning. Use the
modal perfect.

1. Maybe he learned Spanish as a child.

He

2. It was a mistake to ask him to do it.

You .

3. I am sure Peter didn’t enjoy his holiday.

Peter .

4. It’s possible that the teacher saw me.

The teacher .

5. It was unnecessary for you to study this unit.

You .

6. It was a bad idea to park outside the train station.

We  .

7. I think you were wrong to buy the new car.

You .

8. It’s possible that I left the English book at home because it is not here.

I .

9. Maybe she didn’t mean what she said about you.

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She .

10. I’m sure that your classmate took your jacket by mistake.

Your classmate .

Exercise 4. Modal or Modal Perfect? Rewrite the following sentences without

changing their meaning.

1. I suppose you are tired after your cruise.

You .

2. I am sure he was too tired to go to the concert.

He .

3. I regret having behaved  so badly during the lesson.

I .

4.  The students aren't allowed to bring the mobile phones to school.

The students .

5. I didn't finish reading the book because I was watching TV.

I .

Part A.

Directions: Complete each question or sentence with should have or could have, and a
main verb. (10 points)
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For example: You ________ ________ __________ (be) more helpful to that elderly
woman. (advice)

  * should have = past advice, capability, or responsibility   /   * could have = past
possibility

1. I could have helped (help) you last weekend if you had asked. (possibility)

2. He should have talked (talk) to the doctor about his stomach pains. (advice)

3. Could they have done (do) all that work already? (possibility)

4. Maria could have eaten (eat) that whole pizza by herself--she was so hungry!
(possibility)

5. My students should have finished (finish) their assignment by now. (capability)

6. Shouldn't that company have paid (pay) their employees on time? (responsibility)

7. Why couldn't you have met (meet) my earlier? Now we don't have any time.
(possibility)

8. The disaster should never have happened. It was preventable. (possibility)

9. President Bush should have told (tell) the American people they needed to make more
personal sacrifices once the Iraq War began. (responsibility)

10. You should have been (be) able to complete the test within 60 minutes. (capability -- in
this sentence, "complete" is the main verb. That means there are seven words in the verb
phrase!)

Part B.

Directions: Complete each sentence or question with would have or should have and a
main verb. (10 points)

     * would have = past tense of will    /    * should have = past advice, capability, or
responsibility

1. If I had known you were coming, I would have made (make) extra cookies.

2. We should have fixed (fix) the leak in the roof before the storm made it worse.

3. You shouldn't have gone (go) into that strange house if it was empty.

4. It would have taken (take) longer to get dinner made without your help.

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5. Before going to the beach, they should have checked (check) the weather because it
rained.

6. The doctor told her she should have been (be) on a diet the last few years.

7. The party would have been (be) more fun if you were there.

8. My friend would have made (make) a lot of money if he had sold his stock in the
company earlier.

9. I would have done (do) anything just to spend a few more hours with you.

10. They really shouldn't have gotten married (marry) so fast.

Answer keys- A

1. He may have learned Spanish as a child.

2. You shouldn’t have asked him to do that.

3. Peter can’t have enjoyed his holiday.

4. The teacher may have seen me.

5. You needn’t have learned this unit.

6. You shouldn’t have parked outside the station.

7. You shouldn’t have bought the new car.

8. You could have left the E book at home because it’s not here.

9. She may not have meant ….

10.Your classmate must have taken your jacket by mistake.

Answer keys – B

1. You must be tired after your cruise.

2. He must have been too tired to go to the concert.

3. I shouldn’t have behaved so badly during the lesson.

4. The Students mustn’t bring the mobile phones to the school.

5. I couldn’t have finished reading the book but I was watching TV.