MODAL PERFECTS

MODAL+HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE

• Los modales perfectos se usan para hablar de acciones y acontecimientos pasados. Los empleamos para hacer suposiciones, conjeturas y sacar conclusiones sobre el pasado. Estudia las siguientes frases con verbos modales.

–He didn’t come yesterday. He must have been ill.–Andrew looks upset. He may have failed his

driving test.–He should have taken more lessons before

the test.–He should not have been so sure of himself.– She couldn’t have won the race. She wasn’t

very fit.

MUST HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

• Se emplea para expresar que estamos casi seguros que algo ocurrió en el pasado o para sacar conclusiones lógicas.– Sheila was absent yesterday. She must have been ill.

(debe haber estado enferma, seguro que estuvo enferma.

– There is no milk left. Mary must have drunk it all as she stayed up late. (debe habérsela bebido)

– Jack came prepared. He must have been informed about the changes. (seguro que fue informado)

COULD/MAY/MIGHT HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE

• La Se utiliza could have+past participle pasado para indicar que se tuvo posibilidad de hacer algo pero no se hizo.– He could have helped us, but he came too late.

• En negativa, se emplea para expresar una deducción de algo queque dijera estamos seguros que no ocurrió, o al menos, así lo decidimos.– She couldn’t have said those words. She never speaks

like that. (no es posible que dijera esas palabras: seguro que no las dijo)

• Se usa para expresar una suposición porque no sabemos lo que ocurrió.– She didn’t come to the party. She could have been

ill.• May/Might have+participio pasado expresa la

misma idea a la que se refiere el apartado anterior de can, es decir, una suposición sobre el pasado.– They didn’t pick up their parcel last week. They

may/might/could have been out of town.– Call her again. She may/might/ not have heard

you the first time.

SHOULD/OUGHT TO HAVE+PAST PARTICIPLE

• Should y ought to + have + participio pasado se puede usar indistintamente cuando no se siguió un consejo.– She should/ought have seen a doctor last week.

She looks worse than last time.– These letters should have been typed. Now, it’s

too late. (pasiva)

• Cuando no se cumplieron las expectativas u obligaciones.– They should have been home by now.

• Al referirnos a una acción que consideramos poco sensata en el pasado.– I’m very angry with her. She shouldn’t have been

so rude.