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Must / can't / couldn't have - to express probability in the past |
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Structure: modal + have + past participle |
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We use must have to express that we feel sure that something was true. |
They must have left early. |
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We use can't have / couldn't have to say that we believe something was impossible. |
He can't have escaped through this window. It is too small. |
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May / might / could have - to express probability in the past |
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Structure: modal + have + past participle |
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We use may / could / might have to say that it was possible that something happened in the past (but we are not 100% sure). |
He may have missed the bus. |
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The negatives are may not have and might not have. |
He may not have left yet. |
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Practise this grammar: modal verbs for past probability exercise – must have, can’t have, could have, might have (intermediate)
See also: ‘must have’ vs. ‘had to’