The document discusses the different perfect modal verbs in English including could have, should have, would have, may have, might have, must have, and will have. It provides examples of how each modal verb is used in the past or future perfect tense, such as describing past ability, past conditions, past possibilities, past probabilities, and future completed actions.
1. Perfect Modal Verbs
modal verb + have + past participle
UNIVERSIDADE FEDERAL DO PARÁ
Faculdade de Letras Estrangeiras Modernas
2. Perfect Modal: Could
could have _____
couldn't have _____
past ability
The boy
could have done
the dishes himself,
but his father
decided to help.
3. Perfect Modal: Should
should have ____
shouldn't have ____
You did or didn't do something
that was a good idea.
The girl
shouldn't have spun
around so many
times. She fell down.
spin* / spun / spun
4. Perfect Modal: Would
would have ____
wouldn't have ____
past condition / past situation
This house of cards
would have fallen
over if the person
who built it hadn't
been so careful.
5. Perfect Modal: May
may have _____
may not have _____
past possibility
My grandfather
may have used
this camera when he
was a young man,
but I'm not sure.
6. Perfect Modal: Might
might have ______
might not have _____
past possibility
Her mother
might have put
mustard on her
sandwich. She hopes
not.
7. Perfect Modal: Must
must have ____
must not have ___
past probability.
This indicates that something
probably happened in the past.
They
must have practiced
a lot because they're
very good musicians.
8. Future Perfect Tense: Will
Unlike all the other modals above, will is used for the future:
Subject + will + have + past participle
It describes an action that will be completed in the future.
Singular Plural
I will have lived We will have lived
You will have lived You will have lived
He will have lived -
She will have lived They will have lived
It will have lived -
For example:
I moved to Minnesota in 1991. The year now is 2008.
By 2011, I will have lived in Minnesota for 20 years.
