Expressing Certainty, Possibility, and Advisability in the Past Using Modals + Perfective

Mister Guru (Prastowo Ismanto)
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Have you ever wondered how to express certainty, possibility, or advisability about past events? In English Dialogue: Expressing Past Probability With Modals + Perfective, you have noticed the use of modals + perfective in English conversation to express certainty, possibility, and advisability in the past. Look at the following phrases:

  • ... must have forgotten ....
  • ... might have lost ....
  • ... may have left ....
  • ... should have been ....
The phrases above are great examples of how modals + perfective work. Let’s dive deeper into this topic and learn how to use them effectively!

Structure of "Modals + Perfective"

A. Affirmative / positive sentence:
SubjectModalshavepast participle
I
We
You
They
He
She
It
Etc.

may
might
ought to
must
could
should
would



have
been
slept
arrived
finished
forgotten
left
gone
Etc.
B. Interrogative sentence / question:
Question wordsModalsSubjecthavepast participle

Who
What
How
Where
When
Etc.

may
might
must
could
should
would
I
we
you
they
he
she
it
Etc.



have
been?
slept?
arrived?
finished?
forgotten?
left?
gone?
Etc.
C. Negative sentence:
SubjectModals + nothavepast participle
I
We
You
They
He
She
It
Etc.

may not
might not
ought not to
must not (mustn't)
could not (couldn't)
should not (shouldn't)
needn't
would not (wouldn't)



have
been
slept
arrived
finished
forgotten
left
gone
Etc.

Usage of "Modals + Perfective"

  • May have + past participle ➡️ expresses less than 50% certainty.
    Example: I may have left my umbrella in the coffee lounge.
  • Might have + past participle ➡️ expresses less than 50% certainty.
    Example: I might have lost it anywhere.
  • Ought to have + past participle ➡️ expresses:
    • advisability
      Example: You ought to have talked to your manager, but you didn't.
    • 90% certainty/expectation
      Example: She ought to have done well in the test because she was well prepared.
  • Must have + past participle ➡️ expresses 95% certainty/logical conclusion
    Example: You must have lost your umbrella, not your briefcase.
  • Could have + past participle ➡️ expresses:
    • less than 50% certainty
      Example: I suppose someone could have picked it up before I rang.
    • unfulfilled suggestion (positive sentence only)
      Example: You could have talked to me before making the decision.
    • impossibility (negative only)
      Example: He couldn't have done such a silly thing.
  • Should have + past participle ➡️ expresses:
    • advisability/unfulfilled expectation
      Example: He should have worked harder for the test, but he didn't.
    • 90% certainty/expectation
      Example: She should have done well in the test because she was well prepared.
  • Needn't have + past participle ➡️ expresses lack of necessity.
    Example: You needn't have worried all day.
  • Would have + past participle ➡️ talks about hypothetical or unrealized actions in the past. It often appears in third conditional sentences and regrets about past actions.
    Example:
    • If she had left earlier, she wouldn’t have missed the train.
    • She would have called you, but her phone ran out of battery.

Examples Sentences in Context

Practice these dialogues and pay attention to what the modal + perfective structures imply.

Dialogue 1

Woman: "Yesterday I walked home from work because I didn’t have any money for the bus."
Man: "Oh, you didn’t have to walk home! I would have been happy to lend you some money."
Woman: "I didn’t want to trouble you."
Man: "Oh, but you could have just asked me — I’d have gladly helped."

Dialogue 2

Man: "Why didn’t Sarah attend the meeting?"
Woman: "I don’t know. She must have forgotten about it."

Dialogue 3

Woman: "Why are they so late?"
Man: "They might have been stuck in traffic."

Dialogue 4

Man: "I called you last night, but no one answered."
Woman: "Sorry, I must have been asleep."
Modals + Perfective: Expressing Certainty, Possibility, and Advisability in the Past

Practice Exercises

A. Multiple Choice Questions

Select the correct modal + perfective form to complete the dialogues below.
  1. Tom: Where was Mary yesterday? She wasn't at work.
    Bob: She ... sick yesterday.
  2. Lucy: Betty wasn't home when I called.
    Ann: She ... downtown. She had told me she had to do some shopping.
  3. Andy: Bob was late for the meeting this morning.
    Bill: He ... in a traffic jam. There was a serious accident on the highway.
  4. Lisa: I didn't know that the meeting would be postponed to next week.
    Mary: Yes. You ... the room today.
  5. Hadi: I think I've lost my key. I put it in my pocket after locking the room.
    Mary: You ... it somewhere.
  6. Betty: He hasn't arrived yet. I assume he's gone the wrong way.
    Rosa: I think so. He ... lost.
  7. Jim: Nancy hasn't received the email.
    Bill: Really? It ... to the wrong address.
  8. Dave: Bella didn't call her office when she was away from work yesterday.
    Gary: That was bad. She ... her boss.
  9. Sam: I worked until late last night.
    Greg: You ... so hard. The report is due next week.
  10. Rea: Did she phone the police?
    Lori: No. She ... them, but she didn't.

B. Modals in the Past Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences in the past using the modal + perfective form (modal + have + past participle). The first one has been done for you.
  1. That must be a very interesting play.
    That must have been a very interesting play.
  2. Now, rewrite the following sentences:
  3. Joan may not remember the number.
    Joan the number
  4. John might forget to do the shopping.
    John to do the shopping.
  5. He needn't do that work.
    He that work.
  6. You could borrow my laptop.
    You my laptop.
  7. She should get to work on time.
    She to work on time.

C. Sentence Completion

Complete the sentences with the correct modal + perfective form of the verb in parentheses.
  1. She looks so tired. She all night.
  2. I can’t find my wallet. I it at the café.
  3. They didn’t answer my call. They to bed early.
  4. You me about your problem. Maybe I could help you.
  5. He was very late. He the bus.
  6. The meeting was canceled, so you all the way here.
  7. She got a high score. She well for the exam.
  8. There was no response. They the doorbell.
  9. You so much time yesterday.
  10. He more careful while driving.

D. Sentence Transformation

Rewrite the following sentences using modals + perfective.
  1. It’s possible that she forgot to lock the door.
  2. I’m sure they misunderstood the instructions.
  3. It wasn’t necessary for you to bring your umbrella. The rain stopped.
  4. He didn’t study, but he was supposed to.
  5. Perhaps John took the wrong train.
  6. It was a mistake to spend so much money on a new phone.
  7. I’m sure she didn’t hear the alarm clock.
  8. It’s likely that they arrived late.
  9. She didn’t attend the meeting, but she should have.
  10. There’s no way he finished the project in one day.

Updated: Feb 7, 2025Prev: BSE SMK Kelas XII, 7/3/11, 10:34 AM, PV 2042
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