Past modals with deduction

The following examples show how should, can, must, may, etc. are used in the past:

1) I am not sure that my phone was stolen. I might just have forgotten it somewhere.

2) Why does his hairstyle look so ugly? He must have cut his hear by himself with ordinary scissors.

3) Your wife was killed in an accident the day after your marriage? That must have been a shock for you.

must have

When we are sure about the past event

Example:

Where is my EC-card? I must have forgotten it in the automat.

may/might have

When we judge it possible that something happened in the past

Example:

The judge is not sure that Brian is the murderer. The accusing witness might have lied.

can't/couldn't have

When we judge it impossible that something happened in the past

Example:

Brian can't have gone to the expensive but very good hairdresser I recommended to him, because his hairstyle is still ugly.

Now it's up to you to choose the correct past modal! Good luck!

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1. It is so terribly cold inside this room. You should havemight havemust haveJe ne sais pas forgotten to turn on the heater.

2. I thought I was your favourite student, you must haveshould havecould haveJe ne sais pas made an exception for me!

3. Since you always daydreamed during our lessons, you would havecan't havemust haveJe ne sais pas passed your exam.

4. I can't havemight havewould haveJe ne sais pas asked for a spoon for my soup if I hadn't been too shy.

5. If you had paid more attention, you may haveshould havemust haveJe ne sais pas enjoyed the film.

6. The goalkeeper might haveshouldn't havecouldn'tJe ne sais pas lost focus during the game. Now his team lost the match because of his mistake.

7. You must havecould haveshould haveJe ne sais pas lost something since you are looking around here like a detective in every corner.

8. It might not havemight have notmight haveJe ne sais pas been the the sunniest day but the Johnsons still had a barbecue in the garden.

9. Having enough money, I could havemust havemight haveJe ne sais pas bought an expensive car, but I opted for a second-hand car all the same.

10. Anton should havemust havemight haveJe ne sais pas learned more seriously for his tests. Now he has failed them all.