Advanced Level >> Grammar Worksheets >> Practice of past modal verbs used to make deductions such as "must have", "can't have" and "might have".
Past Modals of Deduction
Choose one of the following to complete the sentences.
Must have - Might have - Could have - May have - Should have - Can't have
- John __CAN'T HAVE__ gone on holiday. I saw him this morning downtown.
- Nobody answered the phone at the clinic. It __MIGHT HAVE__ closed early.
- I __SHOULD HAVE__ revised more for my exams. I think I'll fail!
- Sarah looks really pleased with herself. She __MUST HAVE__ passed her driving test this morning.
- I didn't know you were going to Phil's party yesterday. You __COULD HAVE__ told me!
- I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He __MUST HAVE__ caught the wrong train.
- I can't believe Jim hasn't arrived yet. He __CAN'T HAVE__ caught the correct train.
- Don't lie to me that you were ill yesterday. You __CAN'T HAVE__ been ill - Don said you were at the ice hockey match last night.
- I don't know where they went on holiday but they bought Euros before they left so they __COULD HAVE__ gone to France or Germany.
- His number was busy all night - he __MUST HAVE__ been on the phone continuously for hours.
- It __CAN'T HAVE__ been Mickey I saw at the party. He didn't recognise me at all.
