Unit 5 – modals in the past

they show. We can also use modal verbs in the past.

Let’s look at:
When we use past modal verbs and what attitude they show.
Past modals of deduction
Needn’t have
Modal verbs in the continuous form
How to create sentences using past modal verbs.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2+

Modals of deduction: when do we use them?

modals of deduction to speculate or make deductions about certainty.

Put the responses on the cline of certainty

She must have gone on holiday (because her calendar says she’s away for the full week).

She could have gone on holiday.

She can’t have gone on holiday (because I saw her yesterday).

Sophie wasn’t at work today.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2+

or make deductions about certainty.

Careful here. The opposite of must have is can’t have not mustn’t have.

She should/ought to have told us if she was going away!

Look at this example...

We use should have or ought to have to express that we think it was a good idea (or bad idea if it’s in the negative) to do something in the past (but the opposite occurred). E.g. It was a good idea to tell us, but she didn’t.

needn’t have and the continuous form...

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2+

working all night

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2+

Was this action ongoing or in progress for a period of time?

Was it necessary?

Look at what the boy says. What is he 100% sure of?

Look at what the girl says. Did she finish the essay?

You finished it last night?! You must have been working on it all night!

In the end, the teacher gave us another week for our essay, so I needn’t have finished it yesterday!

Look at the conversation and answer the questions.

did, but later realised wasn’t necessary.

The continuous form: To show an action was ongoing or interrupted.

Function: needn’t have & the continuous form

How do we make sentences using past modals?

Notice this is the opposite of don’t need to in the present for something we won’t do because we realise it isn’t necessary. E.g. I don’t need to finish my essay today (so I haven’t done it).

You finished it last night?! You must have been working on it all night!

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2+

in the infinitive.

Complete the table with the correct boxes.

Past participle

Subject

Modal verb

Infinitive aux. have

Infinitive

What changes if the modal is in the continuous form?

We add:
Modal verb + have + been + verb-ing

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education  Gold Experience 2nd Edition B2+

past modals

Simple

Continuous

Time to practise...

Ought to and needn’t are what we call semi-modals. They are not pure modals, but function in the same way.