Perfect Modal

Picture

sentence

hould have ____

shouldn't have ____
You did or didn't do
something that was a
good idea.

The girl shouldn't have

spun around so many
times. She fell down.
spin: turn around many
times.
spin / spun / spun

would have ____

wouldn't have ____
past condition /
past situation

This house of cardswould

have fallenover if the
person who built it hadn't
been so careful.

could have _____

couldn't have _____
past ability

The boy could have

done the dishes himself,
but his father decided to
help.

may have _____

may not have _____
past possibility

My grandfather may have

used this camera when he
was a young man, but I'm
not sure.

might have ______

might not have _____
past possibility

Her mother might have

put mustard on her
sandwich. She hopes not.

must have ____

must not have ___
past probability.
This indicates that
something probably
happened in the past.

They must have

practiced a lot because
they're very good
musicians.

Express regrets about the past with should have + past participle
1.
2.
3.
4.

I told you, you ____________________ more! (study)

We ____________________ earlier. Now we are going to be late. (leave)
She ____________________ angry, it wasnt your fault. ( not be)
I ____________________ too much seafood last night. (not eat)

Speculate about the past with

May / might have + past participle
1. They ____________________ if their star player hadnt been injured. (win)
2. I think it ____________________, but we gave up too soon. (work)
Could have + past participle
1. She ____________________faster, but she wanted to save her energy. (run)
2. We ____________________ a new car, but we decided to use the money to
go on vacation. (buy)
Would have + past participle
1. If you had been able to afford it, you ____________________ to go to
university. (like)
2. I____________________ things differently if I had known in the past what I
know now. (do)