MODAL VERBS AND TENSES
The modal verb will can be used to express the future tense (see will future).
o I will go home in an hour.
When a modal verb is followed by a perfect infinitive (have + past participle), it may denote:
o The past:
I saw him leaving. He must have killed him.
I may have lost the key.
o Unreal situations:
You should have telephoned. (The person did not telephone)
You needn't have come. (The person did come)
o To show that the activity was something different from what we wanted:
I should have done that differently.
o To express we are confident that something happened:
I saw him leave with a smile. He must have passed the exam.
If a modal verb is followed by the continuous infinitive (be + verb-ing), it denotes real (what is happening right now) or general (what is generally true) present.
o She is not here yet. She might be sleeping
o This might be confusing.
Irregular forms of past forms of modal verbs:
o Can – Could
o Will – Would
o Must – Had to (when denoting obligation)
o Have to – Had to
The modal verb will can be used to express the future tense (see will future).
o I will go home in an hour.
When a modal verb is followed by a perfect infinitive (have + past participle), it may denote:
o The past:
I saw him leaving. He must have killed him.
I may have lost the key.
o Unreal situations:
You should have telephoned. (The person did not telephone)
You needn't have come. (The person did come)
o To show that the activity was something different from what we wanted:
I should have done that differently.
o To express we are confident that something happened:
I saw him leave with a smile. He must have passed the exam.
If a modal verb is followed by the continuous infinitive (be + verb-ing), it denotes real (what is happening right now) or general (what is generally true) present.
o She is not here yet. She might be sleeping
o This might be confusing.
Irregular forms of past forms of modal verbs:
o Can – Could
o Will – Would
o Must – Had to (when denoting obligation)
o Have to – Had to