1. M DAL
PERFECT

2. PAST PARTICIPLE OF THE MAIN VERB
W RD RDER:
SUBJECT
MODAL or SEMI-MODAL
HAVE
PAST PARTICIPLE OF THE MAIN VERB
REST OF THE SENTENCE
You
should
have
been
more
careful!

3. MUST To show we are sure about something that happened in the past
He must have
felt happy
when he
graduated.

4. CAN’T To show we are He can’t have been at the party last night.
certain about something that
did NOT happen in the past
He can’t have been at the
party last night.
He flew to Paris
two days ago.

5. COULD To show we had the Joan and Larry could have come with us
ability to do something in the
past but did NOT do it
Joan and Larry could have
come with us
but they
decided not to.

6. MAY MIGHT COULD I didn’t see Bob yesterday. He may/might /could have
To show we are guessing about something that happened in the past
I didn’t see Bob yesterday.
He may/might
/could have
been ill.

7. SHOULD OUGHT TO To say that He should have been more careful!
somebody didn’t do something he/she was supposed to or did something that
he/she
wasn’t
supposed to He
should
have
been
more
careful!

8. WOULD To show willingness to do something that wasn’t done. Why didn’t
you ask
me?
I would have
helped you.