Business English C1 · Lesson 3A

Grammar Bank

The rules behind this lesson — form, use, model sentences and the mistakes to avoid.

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Grammar focus of this lesson

modal perfects (should/might/could have)

1 structure

Modal perfects (should / might / could have)
Looking back with judgement, regret or speculation.
I've got this
Rules & form
- ›should have + participle: criticism or unmet expectation.
- ›could have: unrealised possibility or ability.
- ›might have: speculation, or gentle criticism.
- ›must have / can't have: confident deduction about the past.
- ›needn't have done vs didn't need to do.
Examples
- “We should have flagged the risk in writing.”
- “They could have escalated it, but chose not to.”
- “It can't have been a coincidence.”
Watch out · Write have, not of: should of ✗.
Your own example