_ Modals (2) 4 I 2G May | might | could + be + present participle; may / might / could + have + past participle SycumaeiNiy é. But of course, he might be lying. (not But-of course-he-car-be ying) (= in the present: i's possible he's lying) They could have got in through a window up on the fourth floor. (= in the past it’ possible they got in) With a future time reference we can use may / might / could + be + present participle and may / might / could + have + past participle to say its possible that something will happen in the future: ‘Nik flight was cancelled, so he may/might/could be arriving much later than expected. The thieves may/might/could have left the country by the time we get to the airport Zl May | might | could + have been + present participle We can use may/might/could + have been + present participle to talk about situations or activities that were possibly happening ata particular past time: Do you think he might have been expecting them? Would / will + have + past participle ‘We use would have + past participle to talk about an imaginary past situation: People would have seen them from the street below, To show that we think a past situation actually happened, we use will have + past participle: If they smashed a window to get in, people living nearby will certainly have heard something. Should / ought to + have + past participle ‘We use should / ought to + have + past participle to talk about something that didn’t happen in the past, particularly when we want ro imply some regret or criticism: He must know that he ought to have called the police as soon as he found the door open. We should have been contacted earier (passive) ‘We can also use should / ought to + have + past participle to talk about an expectation that something, happened, has happened, or will happen: ‘The forensic team should have finished examining the building by now. (BE) Mast / can't / couldn't + have + past participle So sonteone else must have opened the door from the inside, (active) it must have been opened from the inside. (passive) We can use must have + past participle to draw a conclusion about something in the past, To draw a conclusion about a past event, saying that it was not possible, we use can't have + past participle or couldn't have + past participle: ‘One man alone couldn't have carried all those paintings. (not ...mustni-have-carvied ...)4 Modals (2) To drawa conclusion about something happening at a particular past time, saying that it was likely or certain, ‘we use must have been + present participle: The driver must have been waiting nearby. Must be + present participle ‘We can use must be + present participle to draw a conclusion about something happening around the time of speaking. We can use must be + present participle or must be going toto draw a conclusion about something likely to happen in the future: 1 speak to the curator of the museum later. She must be feeling devastated They're taking the head cleaner tothe police car. They must be going to arrest him. oF They must be arresting him. [EA Dare and need Sriweionty He gets annoyed easily, so | daren't criticise him. } A good car needn't cost alot, She dared me to jump across. / We need to talk to them. Dare and need can be used either as modal verbs (+ bare infinitive) or ordinary verbs (+ to-infinitive). ‘As modals, dare and need are mostly used in negative contexts. We can use ether dare to or dare (without to) when itis not followed by not: But no one would have dared (to) climb up the outside ofthe building. I daren’t tell him I've got another job. (not Hdarer-to-tell...) ‘We can‘ include to after needn't: We needn't interview everyone in the black. (not Weneedette-interviw ~..) Had better ‘We can use had better instead of should / ought to, especially in spoken English, to say that we think itis a good idea (or not) to do something: Weld better find out all we can about that guard as soon as possible Weld better not go in until the forensic team has finished, We use should or ought to when we talk about the past or make general comments: | should / ought to have phoned her earlier. People should / ought to support the police more. (not People-had-better ...) Be allowed to We can use could or was/were allowed toto say that inthe past someone had general permission to do something: Only the security guard could / was allowed to stay in the museum after it closed. To talk about permission on a particular occasion, we use was/were allowed to (not could): Although he had no ID, the man was allowed to enter the building {In negative sentences we can use either could or was/were allowed to when talking about permission in general ‘or on particular occasions: They let reporters into the crime scene, but they couldn't / weren't allowed to take photos_ Modals (2) 4 Be supposed to We can use be supposed to to express a less strong obligation than with should or ought to, Using be supposed to often suggests that events do not happen as expected: The entry code is supposed to be known only by the security guard. (= Suggests that it was in fact known by others) We can use be supposed to to report what people think is true: The building is supposed to be one ofthe most secure in the country. (= people say itis) (not Hhe-buieing-showd- ought tobe) Other verbs with modal meanings Anumber of other verbs are used with similar meanings to modal verbs: \No one ls to enter the building until the police give permission, (= ubligation ~ furmnal) Everyone present was required to give a statement to the police. (= obligation) How did they manage to get in? (= ability) We have succeeded in narrowing down the list of suspects. (= He might be prepared to tell us more. (= willingness) The suspects have refused to co-operate. (= unwillingness) From the evidence found, it follows that it was carefully planned. (= conclusion formal) We can conclude that the paintings were stolen by professionals. (= conclusion) i Grammar exercises EEG choose the correct verbs. 1. You should / must have been mad to jump off the wall like that. You might / will ave broken a leg. 2 | didn’ dare to admit / couldn't be admitting that td dropped his laptop. He will have been / would have been so angry with me. 3. The Weather forecast said it might be raining | can be raining later, so wedd better to / weld better take an ‘umbrella when we go out. 4 The work on repairing the bridge is supposed to start / ought to start next month, but there have been a lot ‘of complaints about it. t's the height of the tourist season, so they couldn't / mustnt have chosen a worse time to do it. 5 Jan must have to know / must have known the brakes on the car weren't working properly. He really should hhave warned / had better have warned me when he sold it to me. 6 There have been yet more delays in building our new office block. They must / were supposed to have finished by now, but 'm starting to think that | might /can have retired before it's built. ity) 35