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Joy English

C1 Gramática

C1Verbos modales22 min

Perfectos modales: hacer suposiciones sobre el pasado

Modal perfects: speculating about the past

Usa must have, can't have, might have y should have para juzgar hechos pasados con el grado de certeza adecuado.

No siempre podemos estar seguros de lo que ocurrió en el pasado. Los verbos modales con participio pasado (Modal verbs + have + past participle) nos permiten mostrar el grado de certeza o comentar cosas que debieron o no debieron ocurrir. En un nivel avanzado también hay que combinarlos con formas continuas y pasivas.

SignificadoFormaEjemplo
Almost certain (positive)must have + past participleThe lights are off, so they must have gone home.
Almost certain (negative)can't / couldn't have + past participleThat can't have been Kofi; he's in Madrid this week.
Possiblemay / might / could have + past participleThe keys might have fallen out of my pocket.
Possibly notmay not / might not have + past participleHe might not have heard the phone ringing.
Expected but did not happenshould / ought to have + past participleThe parcel should have arrived by Friday.
Unnecessary actionneedn't have + past participleYou needn't have brought so much food.
Longer activitymodal + have been + -ingShe looked exhausted. She must have been working for hours.
Passivemodal + have been + past participleThe contract may have been signed last week.

Fíjate en la diferencia entre couldn't have y needn't have. La primera indica que algo era imposible (She couldn't have known), mientras que la segunda indica que se hizo una acción que no era necesaria (You needn't have come). Además, can have no se usa normalmente en afirmativa: elige may, might or could have.

  • The bridge can't have been built before 1900; the style is far too modern.
  • I wonder why Dev did not reply. He may not have seen my message.
  • We should have booked earlier. Now every seat is taken.
  • You needn't have waited; I could have found the way myself.

Ejercicio 1 de 2

Elige la forma correcta

Elige la opción que mejor complete cada oración.

  1. The lights are off and the door is locked, so they _____ gone home.

  2. That _____ been Kofi you saw at the station; he is in Madrid this week.

  3. I'm not sure where Ana is. She _____ stuck in traffic.

  4. You _____ a taxi; I would have collected you from the airport.

  5. The courier said the parcel _____ arrived by Friday, but it hasn't.

  6. She looked exhausted. She _____ for hours.

  7. I wonder why Dev didn't answer. He _____ the phone ringing.

  8. The bridge _____ built before 1900; the style is far too modern.

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Ejercicio 2 de 2

Completa las frases

Escribe la forma correcta del perfecto modal de los verbos entre paréntesis. La primera palabra entre paréntesis es el modal que debes usar.

  1. Her name is on the list, so she (must / see) the email.

  2. He is very reliable; he (can't / forget) the deadline.

  3. My keys are missing. They (might / fall) out of my pocket.

  4. The hotel is now full. We (should / book) earlier.

  5. We have enough food for ten people. We (needn't / bring) so much.

  6. Their coats were soaked. They (must / wait) outside for hours.

  7. Perhaps the contract was signed last week. It (may / sign) last week.

  8. She arrived late, so she (can't / catch) the earlier bus.

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Fuente

Lección original de Joy English.

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