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MODALS in the PAST

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can't have could could have couldn't couldn't have

didn't need to had to may have may not have might have

might not have must have needn't have ought not to have

ought to have

should have shouldn't have would have would not  

We can use the modal perfect to talk about the past.Modal perfect = modal + have + past participle

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• Certainty

Ex: I can't have lost my keys! (I'm sure I

didn't)

can't have

could

1- Permission

Ex: When I was a teenager, I could go out as late as I wanted.

2- General ability

Ex:Tom could walk by the age of 8 months.

was able to / managed to

• We tend to use was able to or managed to if we are talking about what happened in a particular situation or are referring to a specific achievement (we can’t use COULD):

• Were you able to / Did you manage to speak to him before he left home? ~ No, I'm sorry, I wasn't able to / didn't manage to reach him.

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However, with verbs that refer to the five senses, see, hear, smell, feel, taste, and with verbs that refer to thought processes, understand, believe, remember, decide, we normally use could, even when we are talking about specific occasions:

• He was standing very close to me and I could smell the garlic on his breath.

• He asked me when Julie's birthday was, but I couldn't remember.

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MANAGED TO / MANAGEmanage = succeed / cope

• We use the verbs manage to and manage a great deal in current English when we want to say that we are able to cope with a difficult situation or find time for a particular task. Compare the following:

• Veronica was very upset when Ben left her, but she managed to smile nevertheless.

• Can I give you a hand with that? ~ No, it's all right. I'll manage./ I can manage.

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could have

1- Possibility, but did not happen

Ex: I could have passed my driving test if I'd really tried.

2- Uncertainty

Ex: I guess it could have been Sandra on the phone.

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Couldn’t 1- Permission

Ex: When I was a teenager, I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted.

2- General ability

Ex: I couldn't walk until I was 2. 

3- Ability in a particular situation

Ex: I tried hard but I couldn't persuade him to go to the party with us.

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Couldn't have

1- Possibility/ability Ex: I couldn't possibly have passed my driving test, even

if I'd tried harder. 2- Uncertainty Ex: It couldn't have been Sandra on the phone, could it? 3- With comparative adjectives Ex: I couldn't have asked for better weather on my

wedding day. 4- Unwillingness Ex: I couldn't have left the dog in the car for long (so I

didn't).

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had to

• Obligation (past form of must)

Ex: I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.

Be obliged to

• forced, required, bound, compelled, under an obligation, under compulsion, without any option.

Ex:

- Doctors are legally obliged to take some precautions.

- I was obliged to answer their questions.

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Be required to /supposed to

• needed; necessary.

Ex- "I was supposed to report to the police every week.”

Ex: You were required to fill out your EI forms every two weeks .

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Needn't have and didn't need to

• Both these forms are used to talk about past events, but there is sometimes a difference in use. When we say that someone needn't have done something, it means that they did it, but it was not necessary. Didn't need to is also sometimes used in this way: 

• You needn't have washed the dishes. I would've put them in the dishwasher. 

• You didn't need to wash the dishes. I would've put them in the dishwasher.

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• But we also use didn't need to to say that something was not necessary under circumstances where it was not done: 

• The sun came out so we didn't need to take any rainwear on the trip. 

• We had plenty of petrol in the tank so I didn't need to fill up. 

• We didn't need to wait for long for them. They arrived just after us.

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may have• Uncertainty

Ex: I guess I may have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.

may not have

• Uncertainty

Ex: He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

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might have

2- UncertaintyEx: I guess I might have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.

1- Possibility (didn't happen)Ex: You might have been killed!

3- Annoyance at someone's failure to do somethingEx: You might have told me that you had invited all your colleagues round for dinner!

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might not have

• Uncertainty

Ex: He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

must have• Certainty

Ex: He must have known how much it was going to cost.  (I'm sure he knew.)

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ought not to have

• Criticism (more common is shouldn't have) Ex: You ought not to have been so frank with him.  

ought to have • Expectation (should have is more common)

Ex: Why is she late?  She ought to have arrived by now!  

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should have 1- Expectation

Ex: Why is she late?  She should have arrived by now!

2- should have + verbs of thinkingEx: I should have thought you knew.

3- Criticism (you didn't do something, but it would have been the right thing to do)

Ex: The party was such fun last night!  You should have come!

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shouldn't have

1- Criticism

Ex: You shouldn't have been so frank with him.

2- Polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour

Ex: A: "Here's a bottle of wine for you"

B: "Oh, you really shouldn't have!"

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would have 1- Events in the past that did not happen

Ex: I would have gone out with him, but he didn't ask me.

2- Assumptions

Ex: Oh, that would have been Sarah on the phone just now.

would not • Unwillingness

Ex: I asked Tom to close the window, but he wouldn't do it.

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Exercise 1: Look at the example and rewrite the sentences in the

possible past forms. Example: I should go to the funeral.

I should have gone to the funeral.

Lex might take Karen to the airport.

• Lex ………………. Karen to the airport.

• Lex ………………. Karen to the airport.

• Lex ………………. Karen to the airport.

I have to go to California. (past form?)

4. I …………. go to California.

might have taken

could have taken

would have taken

had to

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Exercise 2: Use a Modal Perfect to complete the sentences (in the right

tense)1- Otis didn't come to work yesterday.

a- He …..................... (take) care of his children.

b- His children …………………. (be) sick.

2- They went on holiday.

a- I saw their lights a few minutes ago, they

…………………. (go) on holiday!

b- They …………………. (go) to Hawaii.

had to take

must have been

can’t have gone

must have gone