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.
