Perfect Modal Verbs – Explanation & Practice

Structure: Modal Verb + have + Past Participle

These forms talk about unreal or speculative past situations: advice/regret (should have), possibility
(might/could have), certainty (must have), impossibility (can't have), and unnecessary actions
(needn't have).

Section A – Multiple■Choice (20 questions)

1. I _______ bought bread, but I didn't know we needed any. a) could have b) must have c) can't
have

2. You look tired. You _______ stayed up too late. a) must have b) might have c) can't have

3. They _______ left already; their car is still here. a) could have b) can't have c) should have

4. She _______ called her mother, but she forgot. a) could have b) must have c) should have

5. He broke the record! He _______ trained very hard. a) must have b) might have c) should have

6. I got lost because I didn't bring a map. I _______ brought one. a) should have b) might have c)
can't have

7. The lights are off. They _______ gone to bed. a) must have b) might have c) should have

8. He had the opportunity. He _______ taken the job if he really wanted to. a) could have b) must
have c) can't have

9. You _______ paid for dinner; I was happy to treat you. a) needn't have b) should have c) must
have

10. She got full marks. She _______ studied a lot. a) must have b) might have c) could have

11. It's only a small scratch. You _______ gone to the doctor. a) needn't have b) should have c)
can't have

12. The team lost. They _______ played better defense. a) should have b) must have c) might have

13. He wasn't there. He _______ caught an earlier train. a) might have b) can't have c) should have

14. You fixed it yourself? You _______ called a professional. a) could have b) should have c) can't
have

15. I can't find my wallet. I _______ left it at the café. a) must have b) should have c) can't have

16. They _______ seen the announcement; it's all over social media. a) must have b) might have c)
can't have

17. We _______ gone by taxi; the buses were on strike. a) should have b) could have c) must have

18. She _______ eaten the cake, she's allergic to nuts. a) can't have b) must have c) might have

19. You _______ borrowed my car without asking! a) shouldn't have b) could have c) must have
20. It was dangerous. You _______ walked alone at night. a) shouldn't have b) might have c) can't
have
Section B – Fill in the Blanks (20 questions)
1. You _______ (tell) me you were arriving early. I would have prepared dinner.

2. They _______ (finish) the project last week, but the client kept changing the brief.

3. I _______ (bring) an umbrella; now I'm soaked!

4. He _______ (contact) us sooner; we waited for hours.

5. We _______ (take) a taxi; the buses were so crowded.

6. You _______ (lock) the door; it's perfectly safe here.

7. She _______ (forget) the meeting, but it's unlike her.

8. They _______ (win) if their star player hadn't got injured.

9. I _______ (listen) to your advice; you were right.

10. The lights are on; someone _______ (leave) them on all night.

11. You _______ (buy) flowers; I already had some.

12. We _______ (catch) the earlier train if we had hurried.

13. He _______ (drink) so much coffee before bed; no wonder he's awake.

14. Sara _______ (be) delighted with the news; she has wanted this for years.

15. They _______ (break) the window accidentally; it's high up.

16. You _______ (worry); everything turned out fine.

17. I _______ (see) the warning signs, but I was distracted.

18. Jack _______ (take) the wrong turn; that's why he's late.

19. The concert was free; you _______ (pay) for tickets.

20. We _______ (leave) earlier, but the traffic was light, so it's okay.
Section C – Sentence Transformation (20 questions)
1. It was a mistake to skip breakfast.
→ _____________________________

2. Perhaps they forgot the appointment.

→ _____________________________

3. I'm sure she left her phone at home.

→ _____________________________

4. I'm certain Tom didn't steal the money.

→ _____________________________

5. Going alone was unnecessary.

→ _____________________________

6. Maybe James misunderstood the instructions.

→ _____________________________

7. It was wrong of them to shout at the waitress.

→ _____________________________

8. I'm sure Anna didn't know about the party.

→ _____________________________

9. There was a possibility for us to win the match.

→ _____________________________

10. It was unwise not to save any money.

→ _____________________________

11. I'm convinced the cat knocked over the vase.

→ _____________________________

12. It wasn't necessary for you to bring gifts.

→ _____________________________

13. Perhaps the train was delayed.

→ _____________________________

14. It's certain they left early.

→ _____________________________

15. I regret not telling her the truth.

→ _____________________________

16. Maybe we took the wrong bus.

→ _____________________________

17. I'm sure Peter didn't do the homework.

→ _____________________________

18. It wasn't necessary for her to cook.

→ _____________________________
19. There was an opportunity for me to learn Spanish.
→ _____________________________

20. Leaving so early was unwise.

→ _____________________________
Answer Key with Explanations

Section A
1. could have – Use 'could have' to express a past possibility that was not realized.

2. must have – 'Must have' expresses a logical deduction about a past event.

3. can't have – 'Can't have' shows we are sure something did NOT happen in the past.

4. should have – 'Should have' expresses past advice or regret.

5. must have – We use 'must have' for a conclusion that we are almost certain about.

6. should have – We use 'should have' to say what was advisable in the past.

7. might have – 'Might have' expresses a possible past situation.

8. could have – 'Could have' talks about unrealized past ability/possibility.

9. needn't have – 'Needn't have' indicates an unnecessary past action.

10. must have – Strong deduction about past.

11. needn't have – The visit was unnecessary.

12. should have – Criticism/regret.

13. might have – Possible explanation.

14. should have – Advice/regret.

15. must have – Deduction.

16. must have – Logical conclusion.

17. should have – Past advice.

18. can't have – Impossible past action.

19. shouldn't have – Criticism of past action.

20. shouldn't have – Past negative advice.

Section B
1. should have told – 'Should have + past participle' expresses regret/criticism about something not
done.

2. could have finished – 'Could have + past participle' indicates ability or possibility that didn't
happen.

3. should have brought – Use 'should have' for an advisable past action that was not taken.

4. might have contacted – 'Might have' suggests a possibility or mild criticism.

5. could have taken – Shows unrealized possibility.

6. needn't have locked – 'Needn't have' for unnecessary past action.

7. can't have forgotten – 'Can't have' expresses near certainty that something did NOT happen.

8. could have won – Unrealized past possibility.

9. should have listened – Regret about ignoring advice.

10. must have left – Strong deduction about past.

11. needn't have bought – Unnecessary past action.

12. might have caught – Possible outcome in the past.

13. shouldn't have drunk – Negative advice/regret.

14. must have been – Deduction.

15. can't have broken – Impossibility.

16. needn't have worried – Past unnecessary worry.

17. should have seen – Regret.

18. might have taken – Speculation.

19. needn't have paid – Past unnecessary action.

20. could have left – Possible action not taken, without regret.

Section C
1. You should not have skipped breakfast. – 'Should not have + past participle' criticizes a past
action.

2. They might have forgotten the appointment. – 'Might have' expresses possibility in the past.

3. She must have left her phone at home. – 'Must have' shows strong deduction.

4. Tom can't have stolen the money. – 'Can't have' expresses near certainty that something did
NOT happen.

5. You needn't have gone alone. – 'Needn't have' for unnecessary past action.

6. James might have misunderstood the instructions. – Possibility.

7. They shouldn't have shouted at the waitress. – Criticism about past behaviour.

8. Anna can't have known about the party. – Deduction of impossibility.

9. We could have won the match. – 'Could have' indicates past possibility.

10. You should have saved some money. – Regret/criticism.

11. The cat must have knocked over the vase. – Strong deduction.

12. You needn't have brought gifts. – Past unnecessary action.

13. The train might have been delayed. – Speculation.

14. They must have left early. – Deduction.

15. I should have told her the truth. – Regret about a past inaction.

16. We might have taken the wrong bus. – Past possibility.

17. Peter can't have done the homework. – Negative certainty.

18. She needn't have cooked. – Unnecessary past action.

19. I could have learned Spanish. – Unrealized past possibility.

20. We shouldn't have left so early. – Criticism/regret.