Modal Verbs in Past Tense

Introduction

• Presented by Arnel from Arnel's Everyday English
• Focus on past modals: could have, may have, might have, must have, should have, would have
• Importance of pronunciation in native speaking

Modal Verbs Overview

• Modal verbs: could, may, might, must, should, would
• Today's focus: past modals (modals + have + past participle)
• Past participle examples: Walked (walk), Swum (swim)

Could Have, May Have, Might Have

• Past Possibility: Indicate guessing without full information
  • Example: "She could have gone home."
• Interchangeably used in past possibility context
• Example scenarios: "Could have left the bag in the café."
• Difference: May is seen as more formal or a higher possibility

Using Could Have for Options

• Past Option: An option existed but wasn’t taken
  • Example: "I could have gone to a salon, but I cut my hair myself."

Expressing Relief

• Relief: Relief that something didn’t happen
  • Example: "He could have been hurt."
  • Note: May not used in this context

Connection with Must Have

• Almost Certain Past: Near 100% certainty
  • Example: "Hannah must have locked up last night."
• Shows high probability without direct evidence

Negative Forms

• May have/may not have, Might have/might not have, Must have/mustn't have, Could have/couldn't have
• Impossible: Couldn’t have, Can’t have

Should Have

• Expectation & Regret: Expresses expectation not met or regret
  • Example: "Pete should have landed by now."
• Provides past advice or criticism

Would Have

• Hypothetical Past: Imaginary or non-real scenarios
  • Example: "I would have gone to the gym, but my back hurt."
• Not a lesson on third conditional, yet related

Pronunciation and Contractions

• Full form vs. contracted forms
• Contracted Forms: Could’ve, May’ve, Might’ve, Must’ve, Should’ve, Would’ve
• Lazy Contractions: Coulda, Maya, Mighta, Musta, Shoulda, Woulda

Negative Contractions

• Couldn't’ve, Mightn't’ve, Shouldn't’ve, Wouldn't’ve
• Avoid unnatural forms like "mayn’t’ve"

Conclusion

• Practice listening and reading for these forms
• Encouraged to create personal example sentences
• Subscribe for more lessons