Capítulo 12

Past Modals & Speculation

must have · can't have · might / could have · should have

Visão Geral: Past Modals & Speculation

No nível B2 você aprende a fazer deduções sobre o passado com variados graus de certeza (must have, can't have, might have) e a expressar arrependimentos (should have).

Must have + particípio (Certeza Positiva)
Tenho quase certeza absoluta de que algo aconteceu no passado:
The ground is wet. It must have rained overnight.
Can't / Couldn't have + particípio (Certeza Negativa)
Tenho certeza absoluta de que algo ERA IMPOSSÍVEL no passado:
He can't have stolen the car; he was with me.

Possibilidade no Passado: Might / May / Could have

Might / May / Could have + particípio
É possível que algo tenha acontecido, mas não tenho certeza:
She is late. She might have missed the bus.
They could have arrived already.

Crítica e Arrependimento: Should / Ought to have

Should have + particípio
Deveria ter feito algo (mas não fiz) / Arrependimento:
I should have studied harder for the exam.
Shouldn't have + particípio
Não deveria ter feito algo (mas fiz) / Crítica:
You shouldn't have said that to her.
Importante: Após verbos modais no passado, o verbo 'have' fica SEMPRE na forma base (infinitivo sem 'to'), seguido pelo particípio passado do verbo principal: 'must HAVE done' (NUNCA 'must to have' ou 'must had').

Erros comuns de falantes de português

He must had gone home.
He must have gone home.
O verbo auxiliar após o modal é 'have', nunca 'had'.
She must to have forgotten.
She must have forgotten.
Não use 'to' entre o modal e o 'have'.
It can't have been true.
It couldn't / can't have been true.
Para dedução negativa, use 'can't have' (nunca 'mustn't have').
I should had called him.
I should have called him.
Use 'should have + particípio passado'.

Resumo: Past Modals & Speculation

Certeza (90%+)
must have / can't have + particípio
Must have left / Can't have seen.
Possibilidade (50%)
might / could have + particípio
Might have missed.
Arrependimento
should / shouldn't have + particípio
Should have known.
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