MODALS + PERFECT INFINITIVES

Some modal verbs are used with PERFECT INFINITIVE = have + past participle to give opinions about past actions
1. CANT + PERFECT INFINITIVE FOR IMPOSSIBILITY in the past
2. COULD / MAY / MIGHT + PERFECT INFINITIVE FOR POSSIBILITY in the past
3. MUST + PERFECT INFINITIVE FOR CERTAINTY in the past
4. SHOULD / SHOULDNT + PERFECT INFINITIVE FOR WISHFUL THINKING in the present for the past

CANT/ COULDNT + PERFECT INFINITIVE

We use CANT/ COULDNT + PERFECT INFINITIVE to express NEGATIVE DEDUCTION. An action in the
past seems practically impossible.

He cant / couldnt have moved the piano himself. He seems too weak.

We prefer COULDNT
when the deduction is made in the past
We knew he couldnt have paid for it, because he had no money
when the deduction is introduced by a verb in a past tense
He said it couldnt have been an airplane

MIGHT / MAY / COULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE

We can use MIGHT / MAY / COULD in SPECULATIONS about past actions.

In the negative the meanings differ:

He might / may / could have heard it from Jack

(perhaps he heard it from Jack)

Ann might /may not have seen Tom yesterday

(perhaps she didnt see him)
Ann couldnt have seen Tom yesterday
(perhaps Ann and Tom were in different towns)

We prefer COULD
To express a past possibility
I could have made a lot of money with that idea, now it is too late.

 MUST + PERFECT INFINITIVE

We use MUST to express AFFIRMATIVE DEDUCTION

a certainty, the only possible explanation.

He must have come by train. All the roads were closed.

A logical deduction
Danny must have felt disappointed when he didnt win the prize

SHOULD / SHOULDNT + PERFECT INFINITIVE

We use SHOULD / OUGHT TO to express UNFULFILLED OBLIGATION

We should have gone to see that film while it was still on at the local cinema

We use SHOULDNT to express a WRONG or FOOLISH ACTION

I shouldnt have lied to him