Modals in the Past!


Můžu to udělat zítra.

I can do that tomorrow. J


Mohla jsem to udělat vcera.

(I could do that yesterday.) L


Problem!!!! Could is also used for our conditional, so we don’t know if you mean “Mohla jsem” or
“Mohla bych.” L


Solution!!!! J Instead of (or in addition to) putting the modal verb into the past, put the
INFINITIVE into the past:


             Do = present infinitive

             Have done = past infinitive (have + 3. tvar)


I could HAVE DONE that yesterday. J



+ I could have done it.

-        He can’t/couldn’t have done it.


She may/might have done it.

SHE must have done it.


She should have read the book for Cultural Politics, her very favourite subject.


I should NOT have played that tournament.

(I shouldn’t)

I should NOT have drunk so much last night.

Drink-drank-drunk


I should have made a birthday card _for _ my grandma.


I should have bought [bot] the chocolate ice cream instead of the vanilla.












I was able to do that yest.

I could HAVE DONE that yest.

I should have done that.

He might have done that.

He must have done that.

He ought to have done that.



I could eat the pancakes.

I could have eaten the pancakes.



Speculation:                             Use MIGHT + past infinitive


e.g. Mr. Pala is tired today. He might          have partied until 3 am this morning.


Adrian looks really really tired this morning. Why?


He might have watched fairy tales about cats all night.

His cat might have squeaked all night.

He might have been woken up at 4 am by his cats.

He might have caught A cold or THE flu.


Illnesses usually have no article: Cancer, diabetes, diarrhea, obesity, indigestion, Alzheimer’s
disease,

       Senility

BUT!  : A cold, THE flu, THE chicken pox, THE measles


He might not have slept well last night. L

1   2a (adv.) 2b,  2c   3


He should (only) have watched only/just one short FT.

He should have locked the cat in another room.

He should have gone to bed early.

He should rather have stayed in bed.

He should have drunk a cup of tea in order to sleep well. / for sleeping.


I should not have gone to Porto last week.

I should have written a couple pages for my Bachelor’s thesis.

I should have worn warmer clothing at work.

I should have worked on my BTH.

I should have answered all of the test messages and emails that I had received.

I should have filled in (the) tables with information about festival guests.