PAST MODALS. Introduction to lesson 7A

Last year you learnt about

PRESENT MODALS (modal verb + bare infinitive):

Deduction about the present:

Don’t call her now. It’s 8 o’clock. She must be bathing the baby. (We are pretty sure that is the case)

They can’t be at home. All the lights are off. (We are pretty sure it is impossible)

They may/might be at the supermarket. (We think it is possible, but we are not completely sure)

Advice:

You should limit your online time.

This year we are learning about PAST MODALS, that is, the same modals to make deductions about the past, which involves using A MODAL VERB + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE:

Deduction about the past:

Rob must have eaten my cake. (I am pretty sure that is the case)

Rob can’t have eaten your cake because he hasn’t come to work today. (I am sure that is NOT the case)

Tom may/might have eaten it (It is possible but we don’t really know for sure).

Criticism or Regret:

You shouldn’t have said that. Now everybody must be thinking you are blaming them.

I shouldn't have bought those shoes. I have another pair which is quite similar.

A very important aspect of this structure with modal verbs is the pronunciation of the auxiliary form of HAVE, which is weak, very similar to the preposition OF /əv/.