Past Modals

Grammar Practice Worksheets

Grammar Notes
PAST MODALS

A. Introduction to Modals

Modals (also known as modal verbs) and modal expressions are words that
come before the main verb and give it extra meaning.

Past modals and modal expressions are used in English to express

advisability, possibility, certainty, ability, and necessity in the past.
We also use them for repeated past actions. Before you look at the charts
in the next section, how many past modals can you think of?

B. Past Modal Pattern 1

Most past modals and past modal expressions are easily recognizable
from this pattern: modal + have + past participle (p.p.)

Key
plus-circle positive sentence  minus-circle negative sentence  question-circle question  N/A not applicable (impossible or uncommon)

Meaning Use Modal Example

plus-circle Mae should have brought her

resume to the interview.

minus-circle Mae shouldn’t have worn jeans to

should + have + p.p.
the interview.
to make
recommendations question-circle Should Mae have called someone to
Advisability about what someone confirm the time of the interview?
should have
done instead plus-circle We ought to have entered
the contest.
ought to + have + p.p.
minus-circle N/A*

question-circle N/A

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 Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Grammar Notes cont.

C. Past Modal Pattern 2 cont.

Meaning Use Modal Example

plus-circle When I was young, I would often

pretend I was a superhero.

minus-circle I wouldn’t go to church with my

would + base verb mother when I was a teenager.

question-circle Would you usually turn in your

homework on time when you were
to express what
Repeated in elementary school?
someone did many
Action
times in the past
plus-circle Lisa used to cry a lot when
she was a toddler.

minus-circle Lisa didn’t use to smile very often

used to + base verb
when she was young.

question-circle Did Lisa use to have many temper

tantrums as a child?

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 Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Grammar Notes cont.

C. Past Modal Pattern 2 cont.

Note #6
The meanings of past modals of necessity, certainty, and possibility are easier to
understand on a scale. The percentage represents the likelihood that an action was
performed in the past. Forms are contracted when it is common to do so.

Percentage Positive Past Modals Negative Past Modals

100% • had to + V • didn’t have to + V

• couldn’t + have + p.p.

99%
• can’t + have + p.p.

95% • must + have + p.p. • must + not + have + p.p.

• could + have + p.p.

• might + not + have + p.p.
50% • might + have + p.p.
• may + not + have + p.p.
• may + have + p.p.

Note #7
The past modal “could” plays many different roles.
Before you read the following examples, can you name its roles?

• She could speak Arabic when she was seven years old. (ability)
• I’m not sure where she is. She could have gone home. (possibility)
• She couldn’t have gone home because her purse is still on her desk. (certainty)

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 Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 4
COMPLETE THE CHART

Complete the chart using the given verb and a suitable past modal or past
modal expression.

# Type of Modal Verb Sentence

could have taken

Reiko wasn’t feeling well, so she             
Ex Possibility take
some medicine.

Sarah              for that furniture store,

1 Repeated Action work
but she doesn’t anymore.

You              your mother.

2 Advisability call
She was so worried!

This looks like Akmed’s jacket.

3 Certainty leave
He              it behind.

When we were kids, our aunt             

4 Repeated Action bake
cookies for us whenever we visited her house.

You              Hye Eun about the party. It

5 Advisability tell
was supposed to be a surprise!

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 Past Modals
Grammar Practice Worksheets

Exercise 4 cont.

# Type of Modal Verb Sentence

Someone left their book on the desk.

6 Possibility be
It              Pavel.

When I was 15, I              eight

7 Ability run
kilometres without stopping.

I heard you got a speeding ticket after work. You

8 Advisability drive
             home so fast!

Mika              an A in history. She failed

9 Certainty get
the last three tests!

I went to bed early last night because I

10 Necessity wake up
             at 5:00 am this morning.

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