So what is the difference between could have and would have? Modals in the past: “could have”Īs with the first alternative, could have helps us to talk about something that was possible in the past, but didn’t happen. That means, we can’t say would has or must has, “have” goes with all pronouns. NOTE: Remember that modal verbs are followed by the infinitive form of the verbs (without to–we call this the bare infinitive). I would have arrived earlier but I missed the bus. I would have called you earlier, but my phone died. (= I had the intention to call you but my battery went flat.) “Would have” is a perfect fit for those situations: We’ve all been in situations where we wanted to do something, but for some reason, we didn’t or we couldn’t. (= I didn’t leave earlier so I was late for the meeting) If I had left earlier, I would have made it to the meeting.
Would have is mostly found in conditional clauses, and it conveys the meaning of past possibilities and unreal outcomes: TIP: If you need to brush up on your knowledge of conditionals, this guide will be a lot of help. What we understand from this example is that the speaker didn’t get the call from this person so they never made up. If she had called me to apologize, I would have given her a second chance. (= giving her a second chance was possible.) What does that mean? We use could/might/would + have to talk about situations in the past that didn’t go as expected. This is the most frequent use of modal verbs in the past: to talk about past situations that were possible but did not happen.
Let’s get right to it! TIPS ON USING MODAL VERBS IN THE PAST Using modals to talk about a possibility in the past The good news is, today you’re going to learn the different ways you can use modal verbs in the past: The structure is simple: use a modal verb followed by “have” and the past participle of the verb:Ĭould/might/should + have + past participleīut the different meanings and linguistic functions of modal verbs in the past are subtle, and they can get a bit confusing at times. So how do we use modal verbs in the past? But even though learning how to use modal verbs in the past can be a challenge, it will level up your skills in English, and give you more freedom of expression.įor instance, you’ll be able to formulate deductions, imagine a different result for a past event, and express your regret about something you did or didn’t with more ease and fluency if you learn how to use modal verbs in the past. When it comes to learning modal verbs in the past, many students struggle with mastering the structures.
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