Uitzoeken wat er gebeurd is: must have, can’t have, might have

Voorbeelden

1. They must have left before the storm started.

   Ze moeten voor het begin van de storm vertrokken zijn.

2. She cannot have seen the sign; it was covered.

   Ze kan het bord niet gezien hebben; het was afgedekt.

3. The letter might have gone to the old address.

   De brief kan naar het oude adres gegaan zijn.

4. You should have told me before you signed it.

   U had het mij moeten zeggen voordat u tekende.

Veelgemaakte fouten

• ✗Fout: He must not have known about the meeting.

  ✓Goed: He cannot have known about the meeting.

  De stellige ontkenning van must have is cannot have, niet must not have.

• ✗Fout: She must knew about it.

  ✓Goed: She must have known about it.

  Na een modaal werkwoord komt nooit een verleden tijd, maar have + deelwoord.

• ✗Fout: You must have rung me; I was worried.

  ✓Goed: You should have rung me; I was worried.

  must have leidt af; should have bekritiseert wat niet gedaan is.

Oefenvragen

Probeer elke vraag eerst zelf en open dan „Toon antwoord” voor de oplossing en de reden.

1. 1Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AThe window is broken, so somebody must forced it.
   2. BThe window is broken, so somebody should have forced it.
   3. CThe window is broken, so somebody must not have forced it.
   4. DThe window is broken, so somebody must have forced it.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D The window is broken, so somebody must have forced it.

   Bewijs nu, conclusie over toen: must have + deelwoord.

2. 2Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AShe cannot have written this; the handwriting is different.
   2. BShe could not write this; the handwriting is different.
   3. CShe must not have written this; the handwriting is different.
   4. DShe might not write this; the handwriting is different.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A She cannot have written this; the handwriting is different.

   Een stellige ontkenning van een gebeurtenis in het verleden krijgt cannot have.

3. 3Kies de juiste zin.

   1. AIt might be the wind last night.
   2. BIt might have been the wind.
   3. CIt might had been the wind.
   4. DIt may been the wind.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B It might have been the wind.

   Een open mogelijkheid over het verleden: might have + deelwoord.

4. 4Vul het gat in.

   Nobody answered, so they _____ out.

   1. Ashould have been
   2. Bmust have been
   3. Cmust be
   4. Dmust have been being
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B Nobody answered, so they must have been out.

   Een conclusie over een toestand in het verleden.

5. 5Vul het gat in.

   He _____ the email; it went to his spam folder.

   1. Acannot see
   2. Bmay not have seen
   3. Cmay not see
   4. Dmust not have saw
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: B He may not have seen the email; it went to his spam folder.

   Een onzekere ontkenning over het verleden.

6. 6Vul het gat in.

   You _____ me. I waited two hours.

   1. Acould have phoned
   2. Bcould have phone
   3. Ccan have phoned
   4. Dcould phone
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A You could have phoned me. I waited two hours.

   could have + deelwoord bekritiseert de uitgebleven handeling.

7. 7Vul het gat in.

   The keys are in the door, so she _____ home.

   1. Amust have come
   2. Bcannot have come
   3. Cmight come
   4. Dmust come
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: A The keys are in the door, so she must have come home.

   Fysiek bewijs draagt een stellige conclusie.

8. 8Vul het gat in.

   It _____ easy, but nobody ever said so.

   1. Amust not be
   2. Bmight not be
   3. Ccould not be
   4. Dcannot have been
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D It cannot have been easy, but nobody ever said so.

   Een stellige ontkennende gevolgtrekking over het verleden.

9. 9Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

   Welke zin is fout?

   1. AThey may not have received it.
   2. BThey cannot have received it.
   3. CThey might not have received it.
   4. DThey must not have received it.
   Toon antwoord

   Antwoord: D They must not have received it.

   must not have wordt niet gebruikt voor een stellige ontkennende gevolgtrekking.

10. 10Deze zin klopt niet. Kies de verbetering.

    Welke zin is fout?

    1. AI must have known that at the time.
    2. BI should have known that, but I did not.
    3. CI could have known that if I had asked.
    4. DI should have known that yesterday, so I did.
    Toon antwoord

    Antwoord: D I should have known that yesterday, so I did.

    should have betekent altijd dat het NIET gebeurd is.