Past Modals: must have / should have

Modal + have + past participle talks about the past: must have for a confident deduction, can't have for something impossible, might/could have for a possibility, and should(n't) have for criticism or regret: She must have left already. He shouldn't have shouted.

These modals combine with have + past participle to speculate about or judge past events. Must have + V3 expresses a confident, logical deduction: The lights are off — they must have gone out. Can't have + V3 expresses certainty that something was impossible: He can't have finished already, it's only been five minutes. Might have / could have + V3 express a possibility we are not sure about: She might have missed the bus. Should have / shouldn't have + V3 express criticism of a past action or regret that something did or didn't happen: You should have called me; I shouldn't have eaten so much.

+ must/might/could/should + have + V3

• He must have forgotten our meeting.
• She might have taken the wrong train.
• You should have told me earlier.

− can't/shouldn't + have + V3

• They can't have left yet; their car is still here.
• You shouldn't have spent all your savings.

? Could/Should + subject + have + V3?

• Could they have missed the flight?
• Should I have said something?

• ENThe ground is wet — it must have rained last night.

  KZЖер дымқыл — кеше түнде жаңбыр жауған болуы керек.

  RUЗемля мокрая — должно быть, ночью шёл дождь.

• ENShe can't have forgotten; she wrote it in her diary.

  KZОл ұмытпаған болуы керек; ол оны күнделігіне жазған.

  RUОна не могла забыть; она записала это в дневнике.

• ENHe might have left his phone at the office.

  KZОл телефонын кеңседе қалдырған болуы мүмкін.

  RUВозможно, он оставил телефон в офисе.

• ENYou should have asked for help instead of struggling alone.

  KZЖалғыз күресудің орнына көмек сұрауың керек еді.

  RUТебе следовало попросить о помощи, а не мучиться в одиночку.

• ENI shouldn't have eaten that last piece of cake.

  KZСоңғы кесек тортты жемеуім керек еді.

  RUМне не следовало есть тот последний кусок торта.

• ENThey must have taken a taxi — they arrived so quickly.

  KZОлар такси алған болуы керек — олар тым тез жетті.

  RUОни, должно быть, взяли такси — приехали так быстро.

• ENHe can't have passed the exam; he didn't study at all.

  KZОл емтиханды тапсыра алмады; ол мүлдем дайындалмады.

  RUОн не мог сдать экзамен; он совсем не готовился.

• ENShe could have warned us about the traffic.

  KZОл бізге көлік тығынынан хабарлауы мүмкін еді.

  RUОна могла бы предупредить нас о пробке.

• ENWhy didn't you call? You should have told me you'd be late.

  KZНеге қоңырау шалмадың? Кешігетініңді айтуың керек еді.

  RUПочему ты не позвонил? Тебе следовало сказать, что опоздаешь.

• ENWe shouldn't have missed the meeting; it was important.

  KZЖиналысты өткізіп алмауымыз керек еді; ол маңызды болатын.

  RUНам не следовало пропускать собрание; оно было важным.

• ✗ He must have went home.

  ✓ He must have gone home.

  Modal + have requires past participle: gone, not went.

• ✗ You should have call her yesterday.

  ✓ You should have called her yesterday.

  Should have + past participle: called.

• ✗ She mustn't have seen the message.

  ✓ She can't have seen the message.

  For impossibility about the past use can't have, not mustn't have.

• ✗ I should have studying harder for the test.

  ✓ I should have studied harder for the test.

  Use the past participle after have, not -ing: studied.

must have vs should have

Must have + V3 is a deduction about what probably happened (He must have left — his coat's gone). Should have + V3 is criticism or regret about what was the right thing to do but didn't happen (He should have left earlier).

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