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B2

Sentence structure: Past modals: should have, must have

Modal + have + V3 looks at the past: regret or criticism (should have) and guesses about the past (must have, might have, can't have).

Alparslan builds a bridge with colorful blocks while Dobi watches. Bring the pieces together

In this chapter

  • Formula

    Positive: She must have forgotten. · Negative: You shouldn't have worried.

  • What does each one mean?

    I should have studied more.

    Example: should have + V3

    Example: shouldn't have + V3

  • Regret: should have

    I didn't bring one, and now I'm getting wet. Turkish “-meliydi” = should have + V3.

    Example: I should have brought an umbrella.

    Example: We shouldn't have eaten so much cake.

  • Guessing: must / might / can't have

    Example: The ground is wet.

    Example: It must have rained last night.

  • Careful when you hear it

    In speech, have gets short: should've, must've, might've. It can sound like “of”, but never write of: should have (“should of” is wrong).

  • Tip

    When guessing about the past, the negative of must have is usually not mustn't have but can't have or couldn't have: He can't have seen us.

Position 2 of 8 chapters at B2.

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