Perfect Modals

Perfect Modal sentence

could have _____ couldn't have _____

past ability The boy could have done the dishes himself, but his father decided to help.

should have ____ shouldn't have ____

You did or didn't do something that was a good idea.

The girl shouldn't have spun around so many times. She fell down. spin: turn around many times. spin / spun / spun

would have ____ wouldn't have ____

past condition / past situation This house of cards would have fallen over if the person who built it hadn't been so careful.

may have _____ may not have _____

past possibility My grandfather may have used this camera when he was a young man, but I'm not sure.

might have ______ might not have _____

past possibility Her mother might have put mustard on her sandwich. She hopes not.

must have ____ must not have ___

past probability. This indicates that something probably happened in the past. They must have practiced a lot because they're very good musicians.

The primary perfect modals used in English are Could have, Must have, and Should have. Could have (or might have) is used to express a event that could have occurred but didn't. Mike could have had an accident. Jane could have gotten hurt. Mike didn't have an accident, and Jane didn't get hurt. But because of some prevailing circumstances it could have happened, but didn't. Must have is used to express an opinion that we believe is true. He must have forgotten. Maria must have come late. When we say He must have forgotten, we are not sure he forgot.

Type the correct perfect modal and verb form for the following sentences. Sometimes negative forms are used. When you have answered all the questions, click on the Get score button at the bottom of the page to see your score and the correct answers.

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

Gloria has won every game she's played today. She I don't have anything to wear today. I Jack lost his wallet on the way to work. He You did very well on the exam. You The Smiths It's hot in here today. I You

(practice) a lot. (do) the laundry. (lose) it on the bus.

(study) a lot.

(build) their house anywhere. Why did he choose here? (wear) a heavy sweater today.

(feed) your dog. He has been hungry all day. (fall).

Lucy shouldn't have stood on the broken chair. She I (buy) more milk. I am almost out. I didn't do very well on the test.I Modal Verbs Exercise 1

10.

(spend) more time studying.

Gap-fill Exercise Complete the sentences using the words listed in the box below, then click the "Check" button to check your answers. Don't forget to capitalize when necessary. Some gaps may have more than one correct answer. can could have to must might should

1. Ted's flight from Amsterdam took more than 11 hours. He such a long flight. He

be exhausted after

prefer to stay in tonight and get some rest. walk

2. If you want to get a better feeling for how the city is laid out, you downtown and explore the waterfront. 3. Hiking the trail to the peak dramatic weather changes. You attempt the ascent.

be dangerous if you are not well prepared for research the route a little more before you

4. When you have a small child in the house, you around. Such objects

leave small objects lying

be swallowed, causing serious injury or even death.

5. Dave: you hold your breath for more than a minute? Nathan: No, I can't. 6. Jenny's engagement ring is enormous! It have cost a fortune.

7. Please make sure to water my plants while I am gone. If they don't get enough water, they die.

8. I speak Arabic fluently when I was a child and we lived in Egypt. But after we moved back to Canada, I had very little exposure to the language and forgot almost everything I knew as a child. Now, I 9. The book is optional. My professor said we But we read it if we don't want to. just say a few things in the language. read it if we needed extra credit.

10. Leo: Where is the spatula? It be in this drawer but it's not here. Nancy: I just did a load of dishes last night and they're still in the dish washer. It be in there. That's the only other place it 11. You be.

take your umbrella along with you today. The weatherman on the news rain later on this afternoon. use the bathroom and

said there's a storm north of here and it 12.

we pull over at the next rest stop? I really hold it until we get to Chicago.

I don't know if I

13. Oh no! Frank's wallet is lying on the coffee table. He night. 14. Ned: I borrow your lighter for a minute?

have left it here last

Stephen: Sure, no problem. Actually, you smoking. 15. I believe she said that to Megan! She

keep it if you want to. I've given up

insult her cooking in front

of everyone at the party last night. She salad if she didn't like the meal.

have just said she was full or had some

16. Do you chew with your mouth open like that? Geez, it's making me sick watching you eat that piece of pizza. 17. Mrs. Scarlett's body was found in the lounge just moments ago, and it's still warm! Nobody has left the mansion this evening, so the killer It be any one of us!!! be someone in this room.

18. Ted: I don't know why Denise starting crying when I mentioned the wedding. Pamela: It have been what you said about her brother. Or, perhaps she is just nervous. After all, the big day is tomorrow. 19. you always say the first thing that pops into your head? once in awhile before you speak? you think

20. I was reading the book last night before I went to bed. I never took it out of this room. It be lying around here somewhere. Where serious injury or even death. it be? be swallowed, causing