PERFECT MODALS

WHAT ARE PERFECT MODALS?

COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
MAY / MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING
MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING
SHOULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
CAN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING
COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use COULD HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To show we had the ability or opportunity to do something in the past but we
didn’t do.
I could have studied law at university, but I didn’t want to.
To show a suggestion that was not taken.

You could have asked for our help or you could have asked the manager to assign
you to a different task. Why didn’t you?
To show an action that almost happened, but didn’t.

Be careful! That car could have knocked you over!!

MAY / MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use MAY / MIGHT HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To Express a weak possibility in the past.

I don’t know where I have lost my umbrella. I might have left it on the train. I might
have dropped it. Or I might have left it at the bus stop.
A: Why didn’t John come to school yesterday?
B: Well, he might have decided to stay at home. Or he might have spent the day. He
might even have slept all day. You know how he is.
MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use MUST HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To Show we are almost sure something happened in the past.

A: John was terribly tired yesterday and when I called him last night, he didn’t
answer the phone.
B: He must have fallen asleep.
A: Some villagers trapped on the mountain for a week.
B: Oh! They must have been very hungry when they came back.
SHOULD / SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE
We use SHOULD / SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To talk about unfulfilled obligations in the past.

I failed the test. I should have studied more I guess.

You should have returned the book to library on time. Now you have to pay a fine.
To talk about regrets.

You should have let your daughter marry the man she loved. She’s so unhappy now.
You shouldn’t have spoiled your son like this. Now he is out of control.
CAN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING
We use CAN’T HAVE DONE SOMETHING;
To show that we are almost sure something did NOT happen in the past /
impossibilities.
She can’t have forgotten to send you an invitation. You are her best friend and
besides, I saw your name on the list.
You can’t have seen Tom at the mall yesterday. He is in hospital and is very ill.
A: I saw M. K. Atatürk when I was a child.
B: You can’t have seen him. He died long before you were born.
EXERCISES; Fill the blanks using a perfect modal.
1. SHOULD HAVE ASKED (ask) for
We are lost because we don’t have a map. You _____________________
directions the last time we stopped for gas.
2. A: Turkish athletes won five medals at 1980 Olympic Games. B: They
_________________________
CAN’T HAVE WON (win)!!! They didn’t participate in 1980 Olympics.
MUST HAVE MISSED
3. Why did you walk all the way to the station? You _____________________ (miss)
the bus.
4. MUST HAVE SPENT
Your flat looks great. You _____________________ (spend) a lot money on
decoration.