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You could have left it in the café. Use modal verb + have + past participle start learning
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Use modal verb + have + past participle to make deductions or guesses about past actions or states.
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She must have been feeling ill. Use modal verb + have + been + -ing form start learning
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Use modal verb + have + been + -ing form to make deductions about continuous actions or states.
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It can't have been stolen from your bag. Use modal verb + have + been + past participle start learning
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Use modal verb + have + been + past participle for deductions using the passive.
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I must have deleted the email. I can't find it anymore. start learning
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you are almost certain that something is true, based on the evidence have + past participle (the perfect infinitive) is also used with other modals: should have (been) and would have (been)
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The plane could have been delayed by the weather. There's a bad storm at sea. start learning
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you think it is possible that something is true, based on the evidence have + past participle (the perfect infinitive) is also used with other modals: should have (been) and would have (been)
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It can't have been the waitress. She wasn't in the room when the bag was stolen. start learning
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you are almost certain something is not true or is impossible, based on the evidence have + past participle (the perfect infinitive) is also used with other modals: should have (been) and would have (been)
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To speculate or make a deduction about something that happened in the past, start learning
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use the modals: must/could/might/can't/couldn't + have + past participle It can't have been the young couple because I was looking at them all the time.
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To emphasise that an activity was in progress, start learning
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use modal + have + been + -ing The woman must have been working with the guy.
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start learning
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use modal + have + been + past participle So it must have been stolen when I was taking the photo.
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Perhaps Jenna while we were out. Let me check on the answerphone. must/might/may/could/ can't/ couldn't have start learning
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Jenna might have phoned while we were out.
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Knock louder. You know he's a bit deaf. I'm sure he didn't hear you. start learning
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He can't/couldn't have heard you.
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I locked the door. I'm certain. Maybe the thieves got in through the windows. start learning
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The thieves might/could /may have got in through the window.
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I can't find the final version of the report in my computer. I realised it was impossible that I saved the document. start learning
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I realised I couldn't have saved the document.
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Ooh, that was a bad knock to your head. I'm certain it hurt a lot. start learning
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I don't know why Wanda was late for the meeting. Maybe her plane was delayed. start learning
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Her plane might/could/may have been delayed.
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I'm sure I've made a mistake. The date looks wrong. start learning
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I must have made a mistake.
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Paola should have won the race. It's impossible that she was trying hard enough. start learning
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She can't/couldn't have been trying hard enough.
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Look at her necklace. Are those real diamonds? Yes. It (?) a fortune! (cost) start learning
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Yes. It must have cost a fortune!
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I tried phoning Mike four times but he didn't answer. He (?) his phone or maybe he left it at home. (switch off) start learning
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He might/could/may have switched off his phone or maybe he left it at home.
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Why was Danielle in the office at midnight? She (?) late. She had a big meeting the next day. (work) start learning
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She must have been working late. She had a big meeting the next day.
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I'm sure Len told me you were a doctor. He (?) of my sister, Rachel, or maybe he confused me with someone else. (think) start learning
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He might/could/may have been thinking of my sister, Rachel, or maybe he confused me with someone else.
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I've lost my boarding card. It's not in my bag! You (?) properly. I saw you put it there just now. (look) start learning
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You can't/couldn't have looked properly. I saw you put it there just now.
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Do you think Yves knows he didn't get the promotion? I suppose he (?) by the boss but I doubt it. (tell) start learning
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I suppose he might/could/may have been told by the boss but I doubt it.
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