Modal Perfect Verbs: Inglés Profesional II Mg. Judit Saraí Sarmento Párraga
Modal Perfect Verbs: Inglés Profesional II Mg. Judit Saraí Sarmento Párraga
Inglés Profesional II
Mg. JUDIT SARAÍ SARMENTO PÁRRAGA
1
Introduction to Modal Auxiliary
Verbs (Simple form)
These are the modal auxiliary verbs:
can could must shall should will would
We won’t be late.
They shouldn’t make so much noise.
5 Most modal verbs refer to the present and future. Only can has a past tense form.
could
He talk when hecouldn’t
was two.
I’m late because I find a taxi.
Modal auxiliary verbs (PERFECT)
• All modal perfect auxiliary verbs refer to the past
We won't eat until they arrive. They might not have had
supper.
• ·Jane wasn't feeling well yesterday. She must have caught a cold.
• · Bill didn't answer the phone when I called him. He must have
fallen asleep.
Can’t + have
Example:
can't have done = we are almost sure something did not happen in the
past. It’s the same than must have but in negative form.
• · She can't have forgotten to send you an invitation. I gave her your
address.
• · They can't have gone to bed late. They were very tired
Could + have
to express something was possible in the past but didn’t happen
Example:
could have done = we had the ability to do something in the past but did
not do it also used to express the possibility of something happening in
the past.
• You could have told us about the new project!
• · She could have called me when she arrived but she forgot
Example: should have / ought to have done = (a) it was the right thing
to do but we didn't do it. (b) we expected something to happen but it
didn't.