Past Modal Verbs in English - Ace English Club

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Get 20% Off Your First Month — Use Code EARLYBIRD20

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Get 20% Off Your First Month — Use Code EARLYBIRD20

Get 20% Off Your First Month — Use Code EARLYBIRD20

Get 20% Off Your First Month — Use Code EARLYBIRD20

Get 20% Off Your First Month — Use Code EARLYBIRD20

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Grammar
B2

Past Modal Verbs in English

We can use should, would and could to talk about past actions.

In this lesson, you’ll learn the meanings and structure of these modal verbs and practise using them.

How to use modal verbs in the past?

Should

Should + have + past participle
An action was a good idea but it didn’t happen, or to critique a past action.
E.g. I should have paid the bills last night.

Would

Would + have + past participle
Used for hypothetical situations that you wanted but they didn’t happen. Common in 3rd conditional sentences.
E.g. I would have gone, but I was too busy.

Could

Could + have + past participle
To show that there was the opportunity or the ability but it didn’t happen.
E.g. They could have won the championship, but they didn’t.

Examples

1. I should have cleaned the house this morning.

2. I would have given you a lift if you had told me.

3. We could have travelled by train but the car was easier.

Practise

Fill the gaps with the correct past modal structure.

Common mistakes learners make

Using base verb instead of past participle
Confusing the meaning

Common mistakes learners make

Using base verb instead of past participle
Confusing the meaning

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