Past Modals

must have done used to express certainty about the past When we use must have and the past participle (must have phoned), we are making a deduction about something that has happened. We are saying, I feel sure that this is the case: If your keys arent in your pocket, you must have left them in the house. Negative form: to express negative certainty in the past in Br.English we can use both: can't have done couldnt have done Note! The negative form Mustnt have done is used only in American English We use cant have and the past participle (can't have phoned) and couldnt have +the past participle when we are making a deduction about something that didnt happen in the past. That is, you believe, based on present evidence, that something didnt happen (or hasnt happened): Hes not looking. He cant have heard you.( he certainly didnt hear you) Shout again! For negative ability in the past we can use only couldnt have done I couldnt have done- I wouldnt have been able to do it if I had wanted or tried to do it. Ann did really well to pass the exam. It was really difficult. I am sure I couldnt have passed it.( - ) Compare the examples: She 1.cant have passed the exam, because she didnt study at all for it. (she certainly didnt pass it , ) 2.couldnt have passed She couldnt have passed the exam, because she didnt have the necessary knowledge then. (she wouldnt have been able to) May /might /can/could have done- used to speculate or guess about what has happened, whether things have happened- possibility in the past Can have done used only in questions and negatives and with words such as only, hardly, never Examples: Where can she have gone? She can hardly have gone to church. She may/might/could have gone swimming.(with could the possibility is smaller) He could have been in the office ,I suppose, but he is not usually there at that time. You might/may have left your keys in the office.(perhaps you left them )

Could have done is also used to express: 1)that we had the ability or opportunity to do something ,but we didnt do it. Examples: 1)We didnt go out last night. We could have gone to the cinema, but we decided to stay at home.( We had the opportunity to go) 2) Why didnt Tom apply for the job? He could have got it. (He had the ability to get it.) 2) that something was a possibility ,but didnt happen Example: That was a bad place to go skiing. You could have broken your leg.(but you didnt ) He was lucky when he fell off the ladder. He could have hurt himself. May/Might not have done used to express negative possibility in the past Example: Why didnt she come to the meeting? She might not have known about it.( , ) ! In questions may and might are replaced by can and could: Example: Do you think they could have missed the plane? Yes, they may/might have. Note: Might /could have +past participle can also be used to express a reproach, annoyance about something somebody could do or could have done Examples: They could have let me know they were going to be late. I might have guessed it was you who broke the window. should have done Should have and the past participle (should have phoned=ought to have phoned) expresses the idea that something was desirable or needed, but did not take place: I should have phoned my mum last night, but I forgot. (I needed to phone my Mum but I didn't phone her) Shouldnt have and the past participle (shouldn't have phoned) expresses the idea that something did take place but that it wasnt desirable or needed; somebody did the wrong thing. You shouldnt have eaten so much chocolate, youll be sick. (you ate a lot of chocolate and it wasn't a good idea) She shouldnt have lied. needn't have Neednt have and the past participle (needn't have phoned) is opposite in meaning to should have. It indicates that something was done, but that it was not necessary. That is, the person who did something thought it was necessary: Tom neednt have hurried, because the train was late. You neednt have cooked a meal this evening. I had lunch at The Chinese Dragon with Tom. I neednt have watered the plants. Just after I finished ,it started raining.

Didnt need to used to say that an action was unnecessary, but this was known at the time of the action.( synonym of didnt have to ) It started raining, so I didnt need to water the plants.