Fitriska E-Primbon: Modals in the past form

Modals in the past form

The other class of auxiliaries is made up of the ones in the illustration. The function only as auxiliaries and do not change grammatical form in the way verbs do. These are called modal auxiliaries. Some of them do function as the past the past tense form of some of the others. May changes to might, will to would, can changes to could, and shall changes to should.

Modal in the Past Form

Modals
Present	Past
Can	Could
Will	Would
Shall	Should
May	Might

1. Could + Verb base

v To express ability to do something

Example : I could speak English

v To express ability, subject to certain conditions which probably do not exist.

Examples : I could go now, if I wanted to ( I don’t want to )

When I was sixteen, I could dance all night ( If circumstances permitted)

v To express polite question

Example : Could I go to the cinema, please ?

v To express polite request

Examples : Could you wait a moment, please ?

v To express polite offer

Example : I could lend you my car till tomorrow

v To express polite suggestion

Example : Could we visit Grandma at the weekend ?

v To express possibility

Example : It could get very hot in Montana

2. Would + Verb base

v To express wish, request ( more polite than will )

Example : would you shut the door, please ?

v To express habits in the past

Example : Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

v Insert rather into the pattern and use this expression to express preferences

Example : I would rather visit Italia than Paris

3. Should + Verb base

v To give definite advice ( advisability )

Example : You should drive carefully in bad weather

v To express the subject’s obligation or duty

Examples : You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

They shouldn’t allow parking here, the street is too narrow.

4. Might + Verb base

v To tell possibilities

Examples : It might rain today

I might accompany you, but it does not appear very likely

v To express polite request

Example : Might I borrow your coat ?

v To express hesitant offer

Example : Might We help you ?

can't have

certainty

e.g. I can't have lost my keys! (I'm sure I didn't)

could	permission e.g. When I was a teenager, I could go out as late as I wanted.
	general ability e.g. Tom could walk by the age of 8 months.

could have	possibility, but did not happen e.g. I could have passed my driving test if I'd really tried.
	uncertainty e.g. I guess it could have been Sandra on the phone.

couldn't	permission e.g. When I was a teenager, I couldn't stay out as late as I wanted.
	general ability e.g. I couldn't walk until I was 2.
	ability in a particular situation e.g. I tried hard but I couldn't persuade him to go to the party with us.

couldn't have	possibility/ability e.g. I couldn't possibly have passed my driving test, even if I'd tried harder.
	uncertainty e.g. It couldn't have been Sandra on the phone, could it?
	with comparative adjectives e.g. I couldn't have asked for better weather on my wedding day.
	unwillingness e.g. I couldn't have left the dog in the car for long (so I didn't).

didn’t need to

unnecessary action not done

e.g. As I was alone this weekend, I didn't need to do any cooking (so I didn't).

had to

obligation (past form of must)

e.g. I couldn't go out last night because I had to do my homework.

may have

uncertainty

e.g. I guess I may have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.

may not have

uncertainty

e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

might have	possibility (didn't happen) e.g. You might have been killed!
	uncertainty e.g. I guess I might have been a bit hard on her when she came home an hour late.
	annoyance at someone's failure to do something e.g. You might have told me that you had invited all your colleagues round for dinner!
	might have known + would (idiom to ironically express that somebody's action was typical) e.g. I might have known that he would finish with me as soon as he found out I wasn't wealthy!

might not have

uncertainty

e.g. He may not have found out yet that he has passed the test.

must have	certainty e.g. He must have known how much it was going to cost. (I'm sure he knew.)
	with surely in exclamations e.g. Surely he must have known how much it was going to cost!

needn't have

unnecessary action that was actually done

e.g. Oh, you needn't have done the washing up!

ought not to have

criticism (more common is shouldn't have)

e.g. You ought not to have been so frank with him.

ought to have

expectation (should have is more common)

Why is she late? She ought to have arrived by now!

should have	expectation Why is she late? She should have arrived by now!
	should have + verbs of thinking e.g. I should have thought you knew.
	with be and adjectives, describing chance e.g. It was weird that you should have been staying in the same hostel last month.
	criticism (you didn't do something, but it would have been the right thing to do) e.g. The party was such fun last night! You should have come!

shouldn't have	criticism e.g. You shouldn't have been so frank with him.
	polite expression of thanks on receiving a gift or favour "Here's a bottle of wine for you" "Oh, you really shouldn't have!"

would have	events in the past that did not happen e.g. I wouldn't have gone out with him, but he didn't ask me.
	assumptions e.g. Oh, that would have been Sarah on the phone just now.