Modal + have + participle

Modal Concept Example

If I had guessed the future, I would have

Would Past unreal
taken some precautions againist what
have action
would happen.

Could Past unreal

He could have taken the flight.
have ability

May Past unreal We may have passed the math exam, but
have possibility it was in Spanish.

Past unreal
Might You might have sold the car., if you really
small
have needed the Money.
probability

Should Past unreal You should have listened to the teacher.

have recommend
 ation

Must Past unreal

We must have been crazy!
have assumption

¿A QUÉ HACEMOS REFERENCIA?

Nos referimos al uso de los modales para expresar diferentes significados en pasado. Durante
esta explicación veremos como expresar obligación, necesidad, suposiciones, consejos, así
como otros usos de los modales en pasado.

¿CÓMO SE USAN?
Dependiendo de lo que queramos expresar, usaremos unos modales u otros. Vamos a verlos
divididos en función de la intención de cada oración.
OBLIGATION: Para expresar obligación en pasado utilizamos la estructura con ‘had to’, que es
la forma de pasado de ‘must’ y ‘have to’.

Tuve que estudiar mucho para el examen.

I had to study hard for the exam.

NECESSITY: La forma ‘needed to’ seguido de infinitivo se usa para expresar que era necesario
hacer algo.

Necesitaba comprar algo nuevo para la fiesta.

I needed to buy something new for the party.
También puede aparecer la estructura ‘needn’t have’ seguido de participio para expresar que
una acción pasada terminó por ser innecesaria.

No necesitábamos haber traído nada a la fiesta.

I needn't have brought anything to the party.
Usamos la forma de pasado ‘didn’t need to’ o ‘didn’t have to’ para expresar que algo no era
necesario, lo hayamos hecho o no.

No necesitaba traer mis libros a la biblioteca.

I didn’t need to bring my books to the library.

ADVISABILITY: El modal 'should have' (también ‘ought to have’) se utiliza para mostrar una
queja o para indicar que no se han cumplido tus expectativas.

Ellos deberían haber traído música a la fiesta.

They should have brought music to the party.
* También puede usarse para indicar una crítica sobre algo, expresando, además, que
debería o no haber ocurrido (aunque en negativa sólo es posible usar el ‘should’).

Nosotros no deberíamos haber hablado durante la clase.

We shouldn’t have talked during the lesson.

SPECULATION: Podemos utilizar varios modales para especular sobre eventos en pasado.

MAY / MIGHT / COULD: Utilizamos los modales perfectos ‘may have’, ‘might have’ y
‘could have’ para hacer una suposición sobre algo que tuvo lugar en el pasado,
expresando que es posible que haya ocurrido.
 Él puede haber visitado a su familia.
He may have visited his family.
* Utilizamos ‘may not have’ y ‘might not have’ si crees que es posible que algo no
haya ocurrido (I.e. He might not have visisted his family).

CAN’T HAVE / COULD’T HAVE: Utilizamos la forma negativa de can y could para
expresar que estás bastante seguro que algo no tuvo lugar.

Él no pudo haberme visto.

He couldn’t have seen me.
* Recuerda que ‘mustn’t have done’ no puede usarse para hablar de
suposiciones.

MUST HAVE / CAN’T HAVE: El modal 'must have' y ‘can’t have’ se usan para hacer un
comentario sobre el pasado basado en algo evidente.

Mary debe haber comprado un nuevo coche.

Mary must have bought a new car.

ADVISABILITY: El modal 'should have' (también ‘ought to have’) se utiliza para expresar lo que
es correcto, aconsejable o moral hacer en una situación en pasado.

Ellos deberían haber traído música a la fiesta.

They should have brought music to the party.
* Tanto en afirmativa como en negativa (en negativa sólo es posible usar el ‘should’),
indicamos una crítica sobre algo, expresando, además, que no debería haber ocurrido.

Nosotros no deberíamos haber hablado durante la clase.

We shouldn’t have talked during the lesson.

OTROS USOS: Podemos utilizar ‘might have’ y ‘could have’ para criticar a alguien por no hacer
algo.

Podrías haberme avisado del examen de mañana.

You could have told me about tomorrow’s exam.

*1 La estructura con ‘might’ con este significado es mucho más formal.

 *2 Podemos usar también ‘should have’ para expresar una crítica, como hemos visto
anteriormente.

¿QUÉ DEBO RECORDAR?

● Es importante que recuerdes las formas de cada uno de los modales simples y modales
perfectos.
● Recuerda que en la mayoría de los casos el significado es el mismo en español y en
inglés, por lo que puedes guiarte para formar tus frases.
● Además, ten en cuenta que usamos el participio de los verbos, que en el caso de ser
verbos irregulares debes conocer su forma para usarlos correctamente.

Modals in the Present Modals in the Past

Obligation You must / have to stop when You had to stop.

the traffic lights are red.

Advice You should see a doctor. You should have seen a doctor

Prohibition You mustn't smoke here. You mustn't have smoked

there.

Ability I can run fast. I could run fast. now I am old.

Certainty He has a Rolls Royce. He must He must have been rich. He

be very rich.
He can't be American. His
English is terrible.
had a big house and an
expensive car.
He can't have written that
poem. He was illiterate.
Permission Can I go out? She could drive her father's car
when she was only 15.

Possibility It may / can / could / might rain. I guess it may / can / could /
It's cloudy. might have been Lacy on the
phone.

Lack of You don't have to / needn't buy You didn't have to / didn't need
necessity any tomatoes. There are plenty in to buy tomatoes.
the fridge.
She   the door. She got her finger stuck and hurt it badly. Should have
slammed / Should not have slammed

She   me. I would have picked her up immediately. Should have called /
Should not have called

As their close friends, they   us to the wedding, instead they decided to only
invite family. (Could have invited/ Could not have invited).

I can’t find my wallet anywhere. I   in in the car. I’ll go and check. (Could
have left / Could not have left).

We   to study more, had we not been in bed with the flu. We wasted a week
of studying. (Would have been able / Would not have been able).

We   to arrive on time anyway. (Would have been able / Would have been
able).
They   another route. But I’m not sure. (May have taken / May not have
taken).

He   getting fired. The mistake he made wasn’t that serious. (May have
avoided / May not have avoided).
You went to Moscow in February? It SHOULD have been cold! 
You went to Moscow in February? It SHOULD have been cold! 
must 
 could 
 can 

We MIGHT have stayed home. That movie was terrible! 

 will 
 must 
 should 

It MUST not have been the best cake you ever made, but it was still pretty
good. 
 should 
 may 
 can 

It was bad, but it OUGHT TO have been worse! 

 could 
 will 
 must 

What a great day! I MAY not have asked for more. 

 must 
 could 
 may 

You went to China? That WILL have been exciting! 

 may 
 must 
 should 

If he had been in the competition he MUST have been the winner. 

 will 
 might 
 ought to