Language focus 2 Past modals

Although he was badly injured, he managed to crawl to safety.

Although he was badly injured, he was actually able to crawl to safety.

Eventually they managed to book two of the last rooms available in Paris.

Eventually, they were able to book two of the last rooms available in Paris, although it was difficult.

I think Greg's out. He didn't answer the phone. But he couldn't hear it - he sometimes plays his music very loud.

I think Greg's out. He didn't answer the phone. But he wasn't able to hear it - he sometimes plays his music very loud.

I'm sure hearing the news was a terrible shock. It must have been an awful experience for you.

I'm sure hearing the news was a terrible shock. Logically certain, it was an awful experience for you.

Annie must have gone home, her coat's gone.

It is certain that Annie went home, her coat's gone.

Vera and Jack must have got lost - they said they'd be here by three.

It is certain that Vera and Jack got lost - they said they'd be here by three.

The British Embassy can't have checked Eleanor's story very carefully.

It is certain that the British Embassy didn't check Eleanor's story very carefully.

They must have sent Eleanor away deliberately.

It is certain that the hotel manager and the doctor sent Eleanor away deliberately.

You must have left your glasses at work. I haven't seen them since you got home.

It is certain that you left your glasses at work. I haven't seen them since you got home.

Eleanor might have invented the whole story.

It is possible that Eleanor invented the whole story.

Experts now believe that Mrs Redwood might have brought the plague back from India.

It is possible that Mrs Redwood brought the plague back from India.

They may have have got in through the window.

It is possible that they got in through the window.

The British Embassy should have investigated Eleanor's story more fully.

It was a good idea for the British Embassy to investigate Eleanor's story more fully.

We ought to have booked in advance - there are no tables left.

It was a good idea for us to book in advance - there are no tables left.

You should have locked the door before you went out.

It was a good idea for you to lock the door before going out, but you didn't do it.

Katie had to buy a lot of new clothes, as she was expected to look smart in her new job.

It was necessary for Katie to buy a lot of new clothes, as she was expected to look smart in her new job.

I had to study medicine - my parents insisted on it.

It was necessary for me to study medicine - my parents insisted on it.

We had to leave early today.

It was necessary for us to leave early today.

David could have left the house any time he wanted to. No one forced him to stay.

It was possible for David to leave the house any time he wanted to, but he didn't do it. No one forced him to stay.

I could have studied medicine, but I decided to go travelling instead.

It was possible for me to study medicine, but I decided to go travelling instead.

It was stupid of you to throw it out of the window. You could have killed someone!

It was stupid of you to throw it out of the window. It was possible to kill someone, but it didn't happen.

Look, the river's frozen! It must have been very cold during the night.

Look, the river's frozen! It is certain that it was very cold during the night.

No wonder we're in a mess - we should have paid more attention to the instructions.

No wonder we're in a mess -it was a good idea for us to pay more attention to the instructions.

They might not have taken Eleanor back to room 342. It might have been a different room.

Perhaps they didn't take Eleanor back to room 342. Perhaps it was a different room.

Annie can't have gone home, her car's still in the car park.

Surely it is impossible that Annie went home, her car's still in the car park.

Surely the hotel staff can't have disposed of the body and redecorated the room so soon?

Surely it is impossible that the hotel staff disposed of the body and redecorated the room so soon?

They can't have climbed over that wall without a ladder.

Surely it is impossible that they climbed over that wall without a ladder.

They can't have removed Mrs Redwood's signature from the hotel register.

Surely it is impossible that they removed Mrs Redwood's signature from the hotel register.

You can't have left your glasses at work - I saw them in the kitchen a few minutes ago.

Surely it is impossible that you left your glasses at work - I saw them in the kitchen a few minutes ago.

Someone else must have seen Mrs Redwood at the hotel.

Surely someone else saw Mrs Redwood at the hotel.

The doctor must have sent a letter with Eleanor when she went to his surgery.

Surely the doctor sent a letter with Eleanor when she went to his surgery.

There was hardly any traffic on the road, so we didn't have to rush to get to the station on time.

There was hardly any traffic on the road, so it wasn't necessary for us to rush to get to the station on time.

You shouldn't have left the door unlocked!

This wasn't a good idea for you to leave the door unlocked, but you did it.

We don't know what's happened to Nicola, she may have got lost somewhere.

We don't know what's happened to Nicola, it is possible that she got lost somewhere.

When I was at school, I had to wear a uniform.

When I was at school, it was necessary for me to wear a uniform.