Modals IV

(1) Len has eaten sushi before.
(2) Len had eaten sushi before Hideki did.
(3) You should have been more careful on that electric bicycle.
(4) Megumi might have eaten Jay's lunch.

What's the difference?

1. He should study harder.
2. He should have studied harder.

Example 1 uses the modal should to offer a suggestion in the present time.
Example 2 uses the perfect modal should have to suggest what would have been best in the past.

Recalling how the present perfect is used should help you.

I was a girl.

I have been a woman for several years. In fact, I have been a woman since 2013.

In the first example, it is clear that Miley is no longer a girl. The past is the past and is not relevant to the present time.

However, although Miley became an adult woman in 2013 (the past), she is still an adult woman in the present time. The past is relevant in the present time.

Have you noticed how a perfect modal is formed? Let's have a look.

Example: "Instead of crying about the results of his test then, he should have studied much more seriously prior to taking the test."

The format is:
MODAL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

Well, we now know how to form a perfect modal, but how do we use perfect modals? Let's now take a look at several ways they can be used.

Ability, Possibility & Permission
1. He could have driven himself to school today. (Ability/Permission)
First meaning: He has just gotten his drivers license.
Second meaning: His dad gave him permission to drive the family car.

2. He could have driven himself to school today. (Possibility)
Context: He was not on the bus this morning.

Advice
Sleepy Joe: I fell asleep in the restroom today.
Mr.Fox: You should have slept more last night.

Regret
Betty Boop: Jay asked me to marry him and I turned him down.
Popeye: He's a millionaire now. Betty
Betty Boop: I know. (crying) I should have married him.

Deduction (Logical Conclusion)
Inspector Clouseau: Huyen Do's finger prints are on the glass.
Sherlock: She must have gotten Bugsy Siegel to drink the poison.

Megumi: There's mud on my beautiful, white carpet!
Waili: Jay might have parked his electric bicycle on it when he was here.

CHECK UP

Select the BEST answer with a PERFECT MODAL for each conversation below.

Conversation #1

Yukie: You didn't eat your breakfast.
Len:

[a] I would have eaten my breakfast, but a fly was swimming in my cereal bowl.

[b] I could eat my breakfast if it was still hot.

Conversation #2

Teacher: I regret to tell you that you didn't pass the course.
Student: What was my grade?
Teacher:

[a] I think you might have not studied for the test.

[b] I think you might not have studied for the test.

Conversation #3

Sana: You had a date with Florian last night. How did it go?
Sakura:

[a] Terrible. I should have gone out with Jay.

[b] Fantastic. I might never have dated another guy.

Conversation #4

Teacher: When are you going to do your homework?
Donald:

[a] I might have to do my homework tonight.

[b] You must have lost my homework because I already gave it to you.

Conversation #5

Huyen: The pilot passed out. Who flew the airplane?
Megumi:

[a] I've flown an airplane before.

[b] It might have been Len. He was in the Air Force.

Conversation #6

Abdullah: You pronounced the sound "p" perfectly.
Huyen: Thank you.
Abdullah:

[a] You must have been practicing.

[b] You must have been practiced.

Conversation #7

Sabina: I heard a noise. What happened here?
Len:

[a] Jeff might have stepped on the cat's tail again.

[b] Jeff has not yet stepped on the cat's tail.

Conversation #8

Kaori: Did you cook dinner for your girlfriend?
Gota:

[a] No. She must have died.

[b] No. She might have complained.

Conversation #9

Megumi: Does anyone know anything about Gaetano's restaurant?
Sayuri:

[a] I have been there before.

[b] I think Len might have eaten there before.

Conversation #10

Sayuri: What happened to your nose?
Jay:

[a] I should have been more careful. I had an accident again.

[b] I might has been in a fight with my girlfriend.

CHECK UP

Look at the photos that follow. Keeping in mind that all actions took place in the past, comment on each of the photos using a perfect modal.

Want Homework? Click to download.

Home