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Modal: Past
Modals
Are used with verbs to express many different meanings
Modal
Single
Multiple
will
be going to
might
have to
should
ought to
must
be able to
can/could
had better
may
shall
Permission
May, Can, Could, Would you mind
Request
Could, Will, Would
Certainty, Probability, possibility
Certainty
We will leave at 5:25 PM.
(You can's stay here after 5:25 PM)
We can leave at 5:25 PM.
Probability
(You can stay or leave. It's up to you)
We may leave at 5:25 PM.
Possibility
(Or we are not leaving 5:25 PM)
Can, Able to do
Ability
Must, Have to
Necessity
Should, Ought to, had better, could, might
Advice and Suggestion
4 Rules only
1 modal + 1 verb
Verb must be simple form
We may could do the homework
- No ending: -s, -es, -ing, -ed,
- No "to" in between
We might be able to do the homework
Basic Rules
Can be used with V-ing
Negative form: modal +NOT
- Kevin does not must be here.
- You must be studying now
- Kevin mustn't be here.
- My cat should be sleeping after 10 PM
- Kevin must not be here.
Should in the past
+ have
+ past participle
should
We use this when the action
Should in the past
- Did NOT happen
- You REGRET that it did NOT happen
Must in the Past
+ past participle
must
+ have
Use this when you:
Must in the past
- Are ALMOST sure that the action happened
- Conclude based on facts or current situation.
Could/May/Might in the Past
+ past participle
could/may/might
+ have
Use this when:
Could in the past
- The action was POSSIBLE
- But you are not so sure
Might in past
Can be a form of complaint
Might
We are late for the movie because of the traffic jam. We might have left earlier.
Would in the Past
+ past participle
would
+ have
Use this when:
Would in the past
- The action did not happen
- Use in conditional sentences: 1 condition was missing, thus the second action did not happen.