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Past Modals

Past modals are used to talk about the past and express degrees of possibility, ability, or obligation.

B2Verbs & Verb Patterns

What is it and how is it formed?

Past modals are a way to talk about the past and express degrees of possibility, ability, or obligation.

  • The formation pattern involves using could, might, should, or must with the base form of the main verb (the main action), like could + walk, to show ability.
  • We use may or might with have + past participle (the 3rd form of a verb, like eaten) to talk about possibility, such as may have eaten.
  • Should with have + past participle shows advice or obligation in the past, like should have studied.

When do we use it?

  • We use past modals to talk about past situations that may or may not have happened, like it might have rained.
  • Past modals help us to express degrees of possibility, ability, or obligation in the past, such as he could speak French.
  • We also use past modals to give advice about what someone should or shouldn't have done in the past, like you should have told me.

Examples

  • She might have gone to the store.
  • They could have taken the bus.
  • He should have studied harder.
  • It may have rained last night.
  • We might have missed the train.
  • They could have won the game.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: He can went to the store. Correct: He could have gone to the store.
  • Wrong: She may goes to the party. Correct: She may have gone to the party.
  • Wrong: They should go to bed early. Correct: They should have gone to bed early.

Memory trick

Try to remember that past modals are like a time machine that helps us to talk about the past in different ways.

Quick check
Which modal verb is used to express a past obligation or necessity?

Where this matters in your exam

In IELTS, past modals are often used in writing and speaking to describe past situations or hypothetical scenarios, and are assessed for accuracy and appropriacy in tasks such as IELTS Writing Task 2 and IELTS Speaking Part 3.

  • Writing Task 2

    Past modals are often used to discuss past trends or hypothetical scenarios in IELTS Writing Task 2.

  • Speaking Part 3

    In IELTS Speaking Part 3, past modals are used to discuss past experiences or hypothetical situations.