Modals in the past Unit : 1 Everyone Makes Mistakes
What are modals? Auxiliary verbs • Can Could May Might Must Ought to Shall Should Will Would – – – – – How could I use modals?
Why do we use modals? We use modals to talk about obligations, suggestions, advise and expectations!
Simple modals: Present and future • Modal + base form • Examples: – We should invite your friend to my party. – We could buy some soda if you have money. – You might want to call your mom and tell her you are at a friend’s house.
Perfect modals: past • Modal + have + past participle • Examples: – She may have called me last night. – Mary could have done her homework yesterday – We should not have made a big mess here.
Modals in the past I can’t find my keys. I may have forgotten them at home. We use “May /might +have + p. p. ” to suggest uncertainty in the past.
I can’t find my keys. I could have forgotten them at home. You could have selected the blue bag. It was beautiful. We use “could + have + p. p. ” 1 - to talk about the past with uncertainity 2 - to talk about expectation that have not been met.
Past Modals She subject could have sent him a nice present. past participle could have rest
I got 9 out of 10. I must have missed one answer. we used must +have + p. p. for drawing • conclusion about the past
Past Modals What should I have done? Wh- pronoun should past participle have
Past Modals You should have told them about it. subject past participle should have rest
We used should + have +p. p. 1 - Talk about mistake made in the past. 2 -talk about expectations that have not been • met. We are lost. You should have turned right instead of left. My father left home at 6 o'clock. He should have come back by now =
Was/Were +supposed to +base form = I was supposed to water the plants. They are dry now. = We were supposed to leave at 12, but there was too much work
Was/Were +supposed to +base form To express that an expected action didn’t happen.