Ch 5
Modals: Continuous, Passive and Probability
She must have been sleeping · It should have been done · I'd have liked to · may well · sure to
At B2: She must have left, You should have told me. C1 adds continuous and passive forms, and modal phrases that grade probability more finely.
She didn't answer — she must have been sleeping.
He can't have been listening — he got everything wrong.
You should have been revising, not gaming.
The tickets might have been sold already.
This should have been done yesterday.
The letter can't have been sent — it's still here.
I would have liked to come, but I was ill.
I was meant to call you — sorry, I forgot.
You were supposed to be here at nine.
likely
It may well rain later. · She's likely to win.
quite possible
It could easily take an hour.
certain
She's sure to call. · He's certain to be picked.
impossible
You can't possibly have finished already!
She must have slept — she didn't hear the phone.
→
She must have been sleeping — she didn't hear the phone.
in progress → have been + -ing
It should have done yesterday.
→
It should have been done yesterday.
passive → have been + PP
I would like to have came.
→
I would have liked to come.
would have liked to + base
It may good rain.
→
It may well rain.
may well = probably
Use the C1 modal forms.
1
Your friend didn't answer your call last night. What might they have been doing?
2
Name something that should have been done in your town but wasn't.
3
Tell me something you would have liked to do last year.
4
What may well happen in your life next year?
Recap
past, in progress
must / might / can't have been + -ing
She must have been sleeping.
past, passive
should / might have been + PP
It should have been done.
unfulfilled wish
would have liked to + base
I'd have liked to come.
intention
was meant / supposed to
I was meant to call.
likely
may well · likely to
It may well rain.
certain
sure to · certain to
She's sure to call.