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Past modals

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🤔
“She might have eaten my cake.” Is the speaker sure that she did? Let’s learn past modals!
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Warm up

  1. Watch this clip. Why is Hagrid frustrated with himself?
Hagrid - I Should Not Have Said That
Hagrid - I Should Not Have Said That
https://youtu.be/498HkRM77gg?t=40
Hagrid - I Should Not Have Said That
  1. Watch the clip again and put the words below in the right order. "What that dog is guarding is strictly between professor Dumbledore and Nicholas Flamel." "Nicholas Flamel?" "I should …” (said/have/not/that)
  1. Match the following words: subject, IIIrd verb form, modal verb, auxiliary verb
      2. I →
      should →
      have →
      said →
  1. Is the second sentence describing the present, past or future?
      2. I should go now. → present
      I should have gone yesterday. → p…

Theory part 1 - the construction

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Exercise 1

Fill in the gaps.
  1. I … (could/go) to the party, but I had to study for my exam.
  1. She’s not here? She … (might/miss) her flight.
  1. He … (must/be) tired after working all day last Monday.
  1. She … (might/lose) her keys, that's why she can't find them.
  1. He … (should/know) better than to trust that person.
  1. … I … earlier yesterday? (should/come)
  1. Ann … (could/not/eat) the cake. She’s allergic to nuts.
  1. Jack wasn’t feeling well so he … early. (might/leave)
  1. You really … (should/not/say) that! It was rude.
  1. … you … me the truth? (would/tell)
answers

Theory part 2 - should have

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Exercise 2

Fill in the gaps and watch the clips to check your answers.
A. "Don't you think the ending was pretty wonderful?" "I didn't watch the ending. I was too depressed. It just kept getting worse and worse. It … (should/be) called 'it's a sucky life and just when you think it can't suck anymore it does”
B. "So Nadia wasn't just a distraction?" "No, 100% real. Handsome, cool, hair as thick as a collie's. I found you the perfect guy, and you drove him off." "Ugh. I'm sorry. I … (should/trust) you. Please call him and tell him I messed up.”
C. "I've been noticing (that) I've been saying things to myself like "Why did you say that, that sounded so stupid or I … (should/not/do) that, I … (should/know) better" and there's just a lot of defeating self-talk in there.”
✂️ I shouldn't have done that, I should have known better
10 seconds · Clipped by Justyna Surma · Original video "A habit worth breaking " + printable guide" by Pick Up Limes
✂️ I shouldn't have done that, I should have known better
https://www.youtube.com/clip/UgkxNpX6pczzKxmi0i6MLTl2k3onY0Ay8Wy2
✂️ I shouldn't have done that, I should have known better
D. "Sorry for snooping around and finding your old man doll." "In Colombia, if you snoop around the wrong box, you might end up inside that box." "I … (should/not/do) it. Now I feel bad for Manny.”
E. "You did a terrific job, doctor." "Of course I did. What did you expect?" "Do you believe this guy?" "I know what I ... (should/do) I could have really showed him. (I) … (should/die) right there on the table." "Oh boy. Wouldn't we have had the last laugh?" "Well, you would”

Exercise 3

🤯
should not have = shouldn’t have = shouldn’t’ve The third option is used in spoken English. Listen to the pronunciation carefully and read the transcripts aloud.
"When you're lying, you use contractions. Lots of'em." "I've lost control. I shouldn't've" "It was the "shouldn't've" that finally tipped me off. I've never heard you use a double contraction before." "And you never will again. I was at rock bottom.”
 

Exercise 4

Read the sentences and tell me what I should have or should not have done.
  1. I went to bed at 3 am last night and now I'm exhausted.
  1. I ate too much junk food and now I feel sick.
  1. I spent all my money shopping online and now I'm broke.
  1. I procrastinated on my essay and now I'm stressed.
  1. I skipped breakfast this morning and now I'm starving.
  1. I ate the whole cake and now I feel sick.
  1. I want to go to the cinema but all tickets are sold out.
  1. It’s raining and I don’t have an umbrella.
  1. I overslept and I’m late for work.
  1. I stayed up late playing video games and now I can't concentrate in class.
  1. I didn't wear sunscreen at the beach and now I'm sunburnt.
  1. I drank too much coffee and now I'm jittery. jittery - slightly shaking in an uncontrolled way or nervous
  1. I didn't stretch before my workout and now my muscles are sore.
  1. I watched a scary movie before bed and now I can't sleep.
  1. I took on too many projects at work and now I'm overwhelmed.
💪🏾
Extra practice! Say each answer three times. Use should not have, shouldn’t have and shouldn’t’ve.
Extra practise

Theory part 3 - must have, can’t have, might have…

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😉
If you’re 100% sure, you don’t need past modals. You can simply say, “She killed him.”
Is it a piece of cake? Here’s some extra info for you! 🍰
Extra exercises for: must have, can’t have, couldn’t have
Extra exercises: may have, might have, could have

Exercise 5

Fill in the gaps and watch the clips to check your answers. There will be more than one answer correct.

Exercise 6

Murder mystery! 💀
A murder took place last night at the local park. The victim, Justyna, was found dead by a jogger at 6 am this morning. Justyna was last seen walking her dog, Wyatt, a massive border collie mix, at 6 pm the day before. Wyatt has since vanished without a trace… The police have identified 9 suspects. Short, grey fur was found on Justyna’s body. Your task is to read the following sentences and use the past modals of certainty to rule out suspects and identify the true culprit.
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