Skip to content
Zorg Space Open the app

English grammar

Modals that carry feeling: you might have told me

C1 · Advanced Verbs and time Questions 10

The rule

Modal verbs often carry an attitude rather than a fact. might / could have + past participle is a reproach: You might have told me you were coming! means you should have. will and would describe characteristic behaviour, and when stressed they complain: She will leave her shoes in the hall (it is typical, and annoying); He would say that, wouldn’t he? (that is exactly what he would say, given who he is). would also recalls past habits more warmly than used to (On Sundays we would walk by the river), though only for actions, not states. must can express annoyed insistence (Must you play it so loud?), shall offers (Shall I open the window?), and may / might as well marks a choice made because there is nothing better (We might as well walk; the bus isn’t coming).

Pattern

might / could have + past participle (reproach) · will / would (stressed) + verb (typical, annoying) · He would say that (predictable) · would + verb (past habit) · Must you …? (irritation) · might / may as well (nothing better)

Examples

  1. You might have warned me that the road was closed.

  2. He will keep interrupting, however often you ask him not to.

  3. Every summer we would pack the car and drive to the coast.

  4. The last train has gone, so we might as well get a taxi.

Common mistakes

  • Wrong: You might tell me yesterday!

    Right: You might have told me yesterday!

    A reproach about the past needs might have + past participle.

  • Wrong: When I was young, I would have long hair.

    Right: When I was young, I used to have long hair.

    Past would is for repeated actions, not states.

  • Wrong: We might as well to walk.

    Right: We might as well walk.

    might as well is followed by the bare infinitive.

Practice questions

Try each one yourself first, then open “Show answer” for the solution and the reason.

  1. 1Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker mean?

    You could have asked before borrowing my car!

    1. You should have asked me first.
    2. You were able to ask, and you did.
    3. You asked, but I did not hear you.
    4. You may ask me next time, if you like.
    Show answer

    Answer: A You should have asked me first.

    could have + past participle here is a reproach.

  2. 2Choose the correct sentence.

    1. She will leave the lights on, however often I remind her.
    2. She will leaves the lights on, however often I remind her.
    3. She will to leave the lights on, however often I remind her.
    4. She would leaving the lights on, however often I remind her.
    Show answer

    Answer: A She will leave the lights on, however often I remind her.

    Stressed will + base form: a typical, irritating habit.

  3. 3Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker imply?

    Well, he would say that — it’s his company.

    1. He is the only honest person here.
    2. His opinion is predictable because of his interests.
    3. He should say it, but he refuses to.
    4. He said it once and will never say it again.
    Show answer

    Answer: B His opinion is predictable because of his interests.

    He would say that suggests the statement is exactly what his position makes him say.

  4. 4Fill in the gap.

    When we were children, my grandmother _____ tell us stories every night.

    1. had
    2. will
    3. was
    4. would
    Show answer

    Answer: D When we were children, my grandmother would tell us stories every night.

    Past habit: would + base form.

  5. 5Change the sentence.

    Criticise with a modal.

    You didn’t tell me the meeting was cancelled.

    1. You may have tell me the meeting was cancelled.
    2. You might have told me the meeting was cancelled.
    3. You must told me the meeting was cancelled.
    4. You might tell me the meeting was cancelled.
    Show answer

    Answer: B You might have told me the meeting was cancelled.

    Reproach: might have + past participle.

  6. 6This sentence is wrong. Choose the fix.

    In those days I would live in a tiny flat above a bakery.

    1. In those days I was used to live in a tiny flat above a bakery.
    2. In those days I would have live in a tiny flat above a bakery.
    3. In those days I used to live in a tiny flat above a bakery.
    4. In those days I would lived in a tiny flat above a bakery.
    Show answer

    Answer: C In those days I used to live in a tiny flat above a bakery.

    live is a state, so past habit would does not fit; use used to.

  7. 7Choose the correct sentence.

    1. Must you playing that music so loud?
    2. Do you must play that music so loud?
    3. Must you play that music so loud?
    4. Must you to play that music so loud?
    Show answer

    Answer: C Must you play that music so loud?

    Must you…? expresses irritation at what someone insists on doing.

  8. 8Choose the correct sentence.

    What does the speaker mean?

    Nobody else is coming, so we may as well start.

    1. We are not allowed to start yet.
    2. There is no good reason to wait any longer.
    3. We started a long time ago.
    4. We are starting because it is the perfect time.
    Show answer

    Answer: B There is no good reason to wait any longer.

    may as well = there is nothing better to do.

  9. 9Put the words in the right order.

    You could at least have said thank you

    Show answer

    Answer: You could at least have said thank you.

    could at least have sharpens the reproach.

  10. 10Change the sentence.

    Say it was typical of him.

    He always left his bike in the hallway.

    1. He would leave his bike in the hallway.
    2. He will have left his bike in the hall.
    3. He was leave his bike in the hallway.
    4. He would left his bike in the hallway.
    Show answer

    Answer: A He would leave his bike in the hallway.

    Past characteristic behaviour: would + base form.

Practise this lesson in Zorg Space

In the app every rule becomes interactive practice: instant correction, reviews at the moment you are about to forget, and progress you can see from level to level — free.

Start for free

More in «Verbs and time»