If she had called me to apologize, I would have given her a second chance. (= giving her a second chance was possible.) What does that mean? We use could/might/would + have to talk about situations in the past that didn’t go as expected. This is the most frequent use of modal verbs in the past: to talk about past situations that were possible but did not happen. Let’s get right to it! TIPS ON USING MODAL VERBS IN THE PAST Using modals to talk about a possibility in the past The good news is, today you’re going to learn the different ways you can use modal verbs in the past: The structure is simple: use a modal verb followed by “have” and the past participle of the verb:Ĭould/might/should + have + past participleīut the different meanings and linguistic functions of modal verbs in the past are subtle, and they can get a bit confusing at times. So how do we use modal verbs in the past? But even though learning how to use modal verbs in the past can be a challenge, it will level up your skills in English, and give you more freedom of expression.įor instance, you’ll be able to formulate deductions, imagine a different result for a past event, and express your regret about something you did or didn’t with more ease and fluency if you learn how to use modal verbs in the past. I wouldn’t have gone out if I’d known it was raining.When it comes to learning modal verbs in the past, many students struggle with mastering the structures. Tim would have helped you if he’d been here. – You use would/wouldn’t have + past participle in third conditional sentences. He couldn’t/wasn’t able to swim till he was ten. I could/was able to read when I was four. – You use could/couldn’t and was/wasn’t able to to talk about ability in the past. (It’s possible it was Jane who sent them.) I think that might have been the postman. – You use might/could have + past participle to say that something was a possibility in the past. (It was a bad thing to do but he did it.) (It was the right thing to do but you didn’t go.) – You use should/shouldn’t have + past participle to say that something was the right or wrong thing to do in the past.

(It wasn’t necessary but I’m very grateful.) – You use needn’t have + past participle to say that something wasn’t necessary in the past but that it happened anyway. I didn’t have to wear a uniform at school. – You use had to and didn’t have to to talk about things that were or weren’t necessary in the past.

You usually believe it was impossible because of something you know.

– You use can’t/couldn’t have + past participle to say that you believe that something was impossible in the past. It must have taken you ages to write that report. You usually believe it was true because of something you know. – You use must have + past participle to say that you believe that something was true in the past.

Modal verbs in the past exercises