10 Modal auxiliary verbs 2

Other uses of modal verbs in the past

should have done
1 Should have done can express advice or criticism about a past
event. The sentence expresses what is contrary to the facts.
I shouldn’t have bought that phone. (I did buy it.)
You should have told the truth. (You didn’t tell the truth.)

Give advice based on the past event.

1 They didn’t study hard. They should have studied harder.
2 I laughed at Carmen. I shouldn’t have laughed at her.

2 Should have done can be used for comic effect.

You should have heard Bob’s story! (=because it was so funny)

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 10 Modal auxiliary verbs 2

could have done

1 Could have done is used to express an unrealized past ability.
Someone was able to do something in the past, but didn’t do it.

I could have taken my car to work. I preferred to cycle.

He could have come with us, but he decided to study.

It was possible, but he didn’t do it!

2 It is used to express a past possibility that didn’t happen.

Why did he swim so far? He could have drowned! (He didn’t.)
What a terrible blizzard! We could have frozen to death. (We didn’t.)
Write the sentence to explain what didn’t happen.
Luckily, you didn’t fall! You could have fallen!

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 10 Modal auxiliary verbs 2

3 Could have done is used to criticize people for not doing things.
You could have helped me move this table. It’s heavy!
(You didn’t help me.)
You might have helped me move this table. It’s heavy!

might have done

1 Might have done can also be used to express criticism.
You might have lent me the money. You know I needed it!

Make the sentence to express your criticism.

You didn’t tell me the good news.
You might have told me the good news.
You could have told me the good news.

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 10 Modal auxiliary verbs 2

2 I might have known/guessed that… is used to introduce a typical

action of someone or something.

I might have guessed that Samantha would forget our date.

We use would when we describe the typical action.

Rewrite the sentence using I might have known/guessed that….

1 The food was cold again. How typical!

I might have guessed that the food would be cold again.
2 She didn’t like my joke. How typical!
I might have known that she wouldn’t like my joke.

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 10 Modal auxiliary verbs 2

needn’t have
Needn’t have done expresses an action that was done, but it wasn’t
necessary. It was a waste of time.
You needn’t have repaired the car. I’m buying a new one.

(You did repair it, but this wasn’t necessary.)

Describe the unnecessary actions.

1 She / buy a radio. I have an extra one.
She needn’t have bought a radio. I have an extra one.

2 I / worry. Everything worked out fine.

I needn’t have worried. Everything worked out fine.

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