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Modal Verbs — Advanced

Modal Verbs — Advanced

Reference

Rule Example
Past deductionmust/can't/might have + PPShe must have left.
Past continuousmodal + have been + -ingShe must have been working.
Past passivemodal + have been + PPshould have been told
Regret/criticismshould have / could have / would have + PPyou should have called

Common mistakes

  1. She must have leave already. → She must have left already.
    must have + past participle (not base verb)
  2. He should have call me. → He should have called me.
    past participle after have
  3. She could of helped. → She could have helped.
    "could of" doesn't exist — it's "could have"

Modal Verbs — Advanced — Exercises

Choose the past modal

Circle the correct answer.

  1. She _____ all night — she looks exhausted. (must have been working / must work / should have worked)
  2. He _____ — he got every answer wrong. (can't have been listening / mustn't listen / shouldn't have listened)
  3. The report _____ by Friday, but it was late. (should have been finished / must be finished / can have finished)
  4. You _____ me! I'd have lent you the money. (could have asked / must have asked / can't have asked)
  5. She _____ the news — she looked shocked. (must have been told / must have told / must tell)
  6. They _____ for hours — they were freezing. (might have been waiting / might wait / should wait)
  7. I _____ studying instead of watching TV. (should have been / must have been / can have been)
  8. She could _____ a professional dancer, but she chose medicine. (have been / be been / had been)

Complete with a modal form

Write the modal + have (been) + verb.

  1. He   (must / leave) early — his coat has gone.
  2. You   (should / tell) me sooner!
  3. She   (can't / be / sleep) — her light was on.
  4. The tickets   (might / be / sell) already.
  5. I would   (help) if I had known.
  6. It   (should / be / do) earlier.

Modal Verbs — Advanced — Answer Key

Choose the past modal

  1. must have been working — Almost sure about an ongoing past activity → must have been working.
  2. can't have been listening — Sure he wasn't → can't have been listening.
  3. should have been finished — Expected but didn't happen (passive) → should have been finished.
  4. could have asked — A possibility you didn't use (criticism) → could have asked.
  5. must have been told — Passive deduction: someone told her → must have been told.
  6. might have been waiting — Possible ongoing past activity → might have been waiting.
  7. should have been — Regret about what I was doing → should have been.
  8. have been — Unfulfilled possibility → could have been.

Complete with a modal form

  1. must have left
  2. should have told
  3. can't have been sleeping
  4. might have been sold
  5. have helped
  6. should have been done