Perfect Infinitive with Modals: Could Have, Would Have,…

Perfect Infinitive! Learn Perfect Infinitive with ModalVerbsin English withgrammar rules, example sentences, video and ESL picture.

The structure “have +past participle” is called a perfectinfinitive.

完美infini学校tive withmodal verbsin English: must have, can’t have, should have, shouldn’t have, needn’t have, ought to have, may have, might have, could have, would have.

Perfect Infinitives

Must Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express a deduction about something that has happened. We feel quite sure about it.

Examples:

I didn’t hear her voice . Shemust have goneout.

I cannot find my watch; Imust have lostit.

Can’t Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Describe a deduction about something that didn’t happen in the past based on present evidence.

Examples:

Hecan’t have fallenin love with her. She’s married.

Thiscan’t have beenan economically sensible decision.

Should Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express the idea that something was desirable or needed but didn’t take place.

Examples:

Sheshould have askedyou before borrowing your pen.

Weshould have hada proper discussion before voting.

Shouldn’t Have + Past Participle

Usage:

事情发生但它不是desirable.

Example:

Sheshouldn’t have takenthe matter too seriously.

Needn’t Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express that something was done but it wasn’t necessary. The person who did it thought it was necessary.

Examples:

Heneedn’t have beenso careful.

Ineedn’t have knockedat the door since, in this way, I awoke the baby.(but I knocked)

Ought to Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express an unfulfilled duty or obligation.

Example:

Iought to have comeearlier. I deeply regret.

May Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express the possibility that an action took place in the past.

Example:

Alert readersmay have noticedthe misprint in last week’s column.

Might Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express a past possibility.

Example:

Our neighborsmight have heardsome noises when our car was stolen.

Could Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Express past reference about something that was not carried out.

Examples:

Youcould have doneit.(You didn’t do it)

Youcould have toldme I had asnottynose!

Would Have + Past Participle

Usage:

Used in the Third Conditional.

Example:

Iwould have goneto university if my parents had had more money.(The speaker didn’t go to university.)

Perfect Infinitive with Modal Verbs | Picture

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Last Updated on January 15, 2020