Past Modals

1

100

'I have a really intense stomachache, I ______ (not eat) too much'

'I SHOULDN'T HAVE eaten too much'

200

'Kimberly is not speaking to Tom. He ______ (do) something terrible to her'

'He MUST HAVE done something terrible to her'

300

- 'Sharon hasn't worn the sweater I gave her. She _____ (not like) it'

- 'Nonsene. She's probably waiting for an special occasion'

(The prediction is SOMEWHAT possible)

'She MAY NOT have liked it'

400

'Tiffany complains a lot about studying Law as a major. She ______ (choose) Medicine, but she didn't'

'She COULD HAVE chosen'

500

'I can't believe I didn't pass the exam. It was so easy. I ______ (study) more'

'I SHOULD HAVE studied more'

2

100

- 'Look, John is driving a new car'

- 'But he didn't have any money. Actually he was broke'

- 'He ______ (win) the lottery or something'

'He MUST HAVE won the lottery or something'

200

- 'I tried talking to Jim but he didn't answer. He was kind of absent minded'

- 'He ______ (have) a bad day. You can ask him later'

(The prediction is A REMOTE possibility)

'He MIGHT HAVE had a bad day'

300

- 'Rob spoke really badly about Katherine in the party'

-'That ______ (be) Rob. He's actually Katherine's best friend'

'That CAN'T HAVE been'

400

'Tiffany is furious with me. We had a big fight because I forgot her birthday. I _____ (write) it somewhere'

'I SHOULD HAVE written it somewhere'

500

- 'Have you seen John? He's walking in crutches'

- 'Yeah, I saw him. He ______ (have) an accident'

'He MUST HAVE had an accident'

3

100

- 'I'm upset. I didn't find any tickets for the concert'

- 'Did you ask Tom? He _____ (get) those.'

(The prediction is SOMEWHAT possible)

'He MAY HAVE got those'

200

- 'Everyone thought John was going to be appointed as new General Manager, but the company opted for Tina'

- 'Yeah, I heard. That came as a total suprise. No one ______ (anticipate) it'

'No one COULD HAVE anticipated it'

300

'I need some money to buy some books but I used all my money in this video game. I ______ (not spend) all the money'

'I SHOULDN'T HAVE spent all the money'

400

- 'Poor Harry. I saw him packing all his things. His office is empty'

- 'He ______ (be) fired'

'He MUST HAVE been fired'

500

- 'Shawn is not in class and he's always the first one to arrive'

- 'He _____ (not hear) the alarm. Or he _____ (miss) the bus'

(The first prediction is A REMOTE possibility. The second one is SOMEWHAT possible)

'He MIGHT NOT HAVE heard the alarm. Or he MAY HAVE missed the bus'

4

100

- 'Didn't Grace say she was going to be at home? Because I just saw here in the concert at a distance'

- 'Well, that ______ (be) her. I just videocalled her and she is watching a movie at home'

'Well, that CAN'T HAVE been her'

200

'Oh no, the traffic is really heavy and I have an important meeting. I _____ (not sleep) those extra 5 minutes'

'I SHOULDN'T HAVE slept those extra 5 minutes'

300

- 'Did you see the ring Thomas gave to Anna?'

- 'It was magnificent. It _____ (cost) a fortune'

'It MUST HAVE cost a fortune'

400

- 'I said hello to Kimberly and she didn't answer back. Can you believe it?'

- 'That's strange. She's really polite. She _____ (not see) you'

(The prediction is SOMEWHAT possible)

'She MAY NOT HAVE seen you'

500

- 'Did you hear the news? The teacher said nobody had to take the midterm exam. He said everybody passed!'

- 'He ______ (say) that. He always applies the midterm test'

'He CAN'T HAVE said that'

Usage

100

In which cases or scenarios do we use Modals in the Past?

Depending of the Modal, we can express a strong deduction (must have or can't have), a criticism of the past (should have), a probability, high or low (may have or might have) or as an ability to do something (could have)

200

What is the "interpretation" of the form "May have" in Spanish?

It is something like (in Spanish): "tal vez + verb in past"

Example: "Tom may have bought the tickets"

(Tom tal vez compró los boletos)

300

What is the "interpretation" of the form "Might have" in Spanish?

It is something like (in Spanish): "quizá + verb in past"

Example: "Tina might have lost the bus"

(Quizá Tina perdió el autobús)

400

What is the "interpretation" of the form "Should have" in Spanish?

It is something like (in Spanish): "debió" as to criticise the past.

Example: "Henry should have studied more"

(Henry debió estudiar más)

500

What is the "interpretation" of the form "Must have" in Spanish?

It is something like (in Spanish): "debió haber" or "debió + verb in infinitive"

Example: "Kimberly must have lost my number"

(Kimberly debió haber perdido mi número or 

Kimberly debió perder mi número)