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Modals in the Past

Modals in the Past

Reference

Rule Example

Modals in the Past — Exercises

Choose the past modal

Circle the correct answer.

  1. You _____ me! I would have helped. (should have told / should told / must told)
  2. I _____ so much food — nobody was hungry. (needn't have cooked / didn't need to cook / mustn't have cooked)
  3. I _____ a ticket — my friend had a spare one, so I didn't buy one. (didn't need to buy / needn't have bought / shouldn't have bought)
  4. She _____ the email — her phone was off all day. (can't have read / mustn't have read / shouldn't have read)
  5. The ground is wet. It _____ in the night. (must have rained / should have rained / can have rained)
  6. We _____ the match if our best player hadn't been injured. (would have won / should have won / must have won)
  7. I'm so full. I _____ that last slice of pizza. (shouldn't have eaten / needn't have eaten / can't have eaten)
  8. He's late. He _____ the bus. (might have missed / should have missed / needn't have missed)

Complete with a past modal

Write the modal + have + past participle (or didn't need to + verb).

  1. You   (should / bring) a coat — it's freezing!
  2. We   (needn't / hurry) — the film started late.
  3. She   (can't / see) us — she wasn't wearing her glasses.
  4. I would   (come) if you had invited me.
  5. They   (must / forget) — they never forget a birthday!
  6. We   (not / need / take) a taxi — Dad picked us up.

Modals in the Past — Answer Key

Choose the past modal

  1. should have told — Criticism of a past action → should have told.
  2. needn't have cooked — I cooked, but it was unnecessary → needn't have cooked.
  3. didn't need to buy — Not necessary, and I didn't do it → didn't need to buy.
  4. can't have read — Sure it didn't happen → can't have read.
  5. must have rained — Almost sure about the past → must have rained.
  6. would have won — Imagined past result → would have won.
  7. shouldn't have eaten — Regret about something I did → shouldn't have eaten.
  8. might have missed — A possible explanation → might have missed.

Complete with a past modal

  1. should have brought
  2. needn't have hurried
  3. can't have seen
  4. have come
  5. must have forgotten
  6. didn't need to take