MODAL MEANING
“She can’t read without her glasses.”
Ability / lack of ability
You ____ use your phone in class.
mustn’t
❌ You must to be careful when driving.
You must be careful when driving.
He looks exhausted. He ____ been tired after the journey.
must have
Your friend is worried because Luke doesn’t have his phone.
He may / might have lost it.
“You must be in the language lab. You have a lesson now.”
Logical conclusion / certainty
I ____ invite Julia, but I’m not sure.
might
❌ He doesn’t have go to hospital.
He doesn’t have to go to hospital.
She didn’t answer the phone. She ____ been asleep.
might / may have
The menu is in French and the food is terrible.
You should have asked the waiter to translate.
“You shouldn’t have laughed at Julia.”
Criticism / regret about the past
She ____ read from the age of three.
could
❌ They must have went home early.
They must have gone home early.
You ____ told me earlier! Now it’s too late.
should have
A student says: “I can’t do all this work!”
You’ll cope with it / You’ll be able to cope.
“They might have had an accident.”
Possibility in the past
You ____ have shouted. I could hear you.
didn’t need to / needn’t have
❌ You shouldn’t to have sent so many messages.
You shouldn’t have sent so many messages.
They ____ seen him. He was in Paris.
couldn’t have
Dan is in a wheelchair. Public transport is difficult.
It must be difficult to use public transport.
“He could have given up, but he continued the race.”
Ability or possibility that didn’t happen
He ____ have died, but the doctors saved him.
could / might
❌ He can have forgotten his phone.
He may / might have forgotten his phone.
Without your help, I ____ managed.
wouldn’t have
You are angry because someone sent too many instructions.
You shouldn’t have sent so many instructions.