Modals in the

past

GRAMMAR

LEVEL NUMBER LANGUAGE

Advanced C1_1051G_EN English
Goals

■ Review modal verbs and

their purpose
■ Learn about the perfect
infinitive
■ Learn about modals of lost
opportunity

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 Pamela should have been here by
now. She must have been delayed on
the road. We should phone Henry to
let him know we‘re going to be late. We
could have arrived on time if we had
left by 3 o’clock but there‘s no way we’ll
make it there on time for dinner now.

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Modals in the past

You‘ll already be familiar with using modal verbs in the present tense, but we also
use modal verbs in a more advanced way – to speculate about the past.

Oh no! I must have left my passport on the plane, I can‘t find it

anywhere in my bag.

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Quick review of modal verbs

Before we look at modal verbs in the past, let’s have a very quick reminder of modal
verbs in English. You should already know how to use all of these. We use these
verbs to express likelihood, ability, permission and obligation.

can could

may might

must must

will would

shall should

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Modals in the past and the perfect infinitive

■ We also use modal verbs in a more advanced way – to speculate about things
which occurred in the past.
■ In the present tense, modal verbs are followed by the infinitive form of a verb
without a preposition.
■ When we use modal verbs to speculate about things in the past, the modal verb
is followed by the perfect infinitive.
■ The perfect infinitive is constructed with the verb have + past participle which
usually ends in –ed.

■ Have tried

■ Have pretended

■ The perfect infinitive ■ Have lost

■ Have done

■ Have finished

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The perfect infinitive

You‘ve got 3 minutes! Can you form

the perfect infinitive with 20
different verbs? Here you can use
any conjugation of have that you
like.

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Modals in the past: modals of lost opportunity

■ Should have, could have and would have are often called modals of lost
opportunity. When we use these modals in the past we are imagining a
situation or situations where the past was different.
■ To construct a modal of lost opportunity, add the perfect infinitive to your
chosen modal verb.

Modal verb and its use Modals of lost opportunity

I would have been a tennis champion by

would (used for results)
now if I had practiced every day.

could (used for possibilities) I could have won Wimbledon.

I should have followed my coach’s advice

should (used for recommendations) and taken the tennis scholarship I was
offered.

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Quick review

Look at the modal verbs below. Can you make 3 sentences with each
modal verb?

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Modals of lost opportunity

These three women went

to university together and
are still good friends 10
years later. They are
remniscing about their
university days. Imagine
what they might say, using
as many modals of lost
opportunity as you can.

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Can’t with the perfect infinitive

■ We use can’t with the perfect infinitive to express something we’re sure didn’t
happen.

■ They can’t have sold their house

yet, the for sale sign is still in the
front garden.

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Can’t and couldn’t with the perfect infinitive

■ When can’t have and couldn’t have are being used to express the impossibility
of something, they have a similar meaning.
■ Remember that couldn’t/could not have is more commonly found in written
texts.

■ The brave sailor could not have known how dreadful the weather was going to
turn that evening, or he would have never set sail that day.

■ Charlotte couldn‘t have seen the mess in the kitchen, or she would never have
left the house.

■ They couldn‘t have made a quick getaway since the road has been blocked all
day.

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Imagine the story

Look at the pictures below. Make a sentence using can’t + perfect

infinitive in response to each picture.

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Over to you

? ? ? ?? ?
? ? ?
Can you make 7 sentences,

?
each starting with can’t +
?
perfect infinitive? Try to use a

? ? ?
different verb each time.

? ? ?
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Two sides to every story

Imagine two parties involved

in a minor car crash. One
party is clearly at fault but
reluctant to admit guilt while
the other party correctly
assumes they were not to
blame. Imagine and role play
the conversation between
the two. Use could, would,
should, and can’t + perfect
infinitive.

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Must + perfect infinitive

We use must + perfect infinitive to express something we are sure of.

■ You must have been so happy to finally see the finish line when you were at the
end of the marathon!

■ Oh no! We must have forgotten Peter‘s birthday, it was definitely some time in
July and now we are in August!

■ She must have received the invitation by now, I wonder why she hasn’t replied
yet?

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Must and the perfect participle

■ Remember! We only use must like this in affirmative sentences.

■ Instead of must, use can and can’t in questions and negatives.

You can’t have met our new colleague Joe yet, he only started last week
when you were on holiday.

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What can you deduce?

Look at the pictures below. What can you deduce about what
happened in the past from what you can see in each photo? Use
must + perfect infinitive. Use your imagination! There are a
couple of words below to help you.

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Over to you

Look at the words below. For each word, make as many

sentences as you can using must + perfect infnitive.

wedding birthday new job

lost keys son competition

dog guitar Brazil

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Write an e-mail

– □ ×

Fiona Carter

Problem with Project E

Dear Ms Carter,

I‘m writing to you regarding the conversation we had about __________ the other day.
I must have been distracted, as...

Imagine you have just realised you made a mistake at work the
other day. Write your boss an apologetic email explaining
yourself using as many modals in the past as you can.

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Imagine and describe

? ? ? ?? ?
? ? ?
Think about how life was 100

?
years ago. Describe how you

?
think life must have been

? ?
using must and the past

? ?
participle.

? ?
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Reflect on the lesson

Take a moment to review any new

vocabulary, phrases, language
structures or grammar points you have
come across for the first time in this
lesson.

Review them with your teacher one more

time to make sure you don’t forget!

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Homework

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Practice writing

Look over this lesson again. Write five sentences with the
perfect infinitive using each of the modals could, would, should,
can’t and must.

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Reflect and evaluate

Look back over the lesson. What do you think were the most
difficult parts and which were the easiest? What else would you
have liked to have done in this class?

–
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