U N I T

Could (do) and could have (done)

26
W e use c o u ld in a num ber of ways. Sometim es c o u ld is the past o f ca n (see U nit 25C):
■ Listen. I can h e a r som ething, (now)
■ I listened. I c o u ld h e a r som ething, (past)

B ut c o u ld is not only used in this way. W e also

use c o u ld to talk about possible actions now or What would you
in the future (especially to make suggestions). like to do tonight?
For example:
■ A: W hat would you like to do tonight?
B: We c o u ld go to the movies.
■ A: W hen you go to N ew York next
m onth, you c o u ld stay w ith Candice.
B: Yes, I guess I co u ld .

C a n is also possible in these sentences (We can go We could go to the movies.

to the movies, etc.). C o u ld is less sure than can.

W e also use c o u ld (not can) for actions which are not realistic. For example:
■ I’m so tired, I c o u ld sleep for a week. (not I can sleep for a week)
C om pare ca n and c o u ld :
■ I c an stay w ith Candice w h en I go to N ew York, (realistic)
■ Maybe I c o u ld stay w ith Candice w hen I go to N ew York, (possible, but less sure)
■ This is a w onderful place. I c o u ld stay here forever, (unrealistic)

W e also use c o u ld (not can) to say that som ething is possible now or in the future. The
m eaning is similar to m i g h t or m a y (see U nits 2 8-29):
■ The story c o u ld b e true, b u t I don’t think it is. (not can be true)
■ I don’t know w hat tim e Liz is coming. She c o u ld g e t here at any time.

W e use c o u ld hav e (done) to talk about the past. Com pare:

■ I’m so tired, I c o u ld sleep for a week, (now)
I was so tired, I c o u ld hav e sle p t for a week, (past)
■ T he situation is bad, bu t it c o u ld b e worse, (now)
T he situation was bad, b ut it c o u ld h ave b ee n worse, (past)
Something c o u ld h av e happened = it was possible b ut did not happen:
■ W hy did you stay at a hotel w hen you w ere in N ew York? You c o u ld h ave stayed
w ith Candice, (you didn’t stay w ith her)
■ I didn’t know that you w anted to go to the concert. I c o u ld h av e g o tte n you a free
ticket. (I didn’t get you a ticket)
■ Dave was lucky. He c o u ld h ave h u r t him self w hen he fell, bu t he’s OK.

W e use c o u ld n ’t to say that som ething w ould no t be possible now:

■ I c o u ld n ’t live in a big city. I’d hate it. (= it w ould n’t be possible for me)
■ Everything is fine right now. Things c o u ld n ’t b e better.
For the past, we use c o u ld n ’t h av e (done):
■ W e had a really good vacation. It c o u ld n ’t hav e b e e n better.
■ The trip was canceled last week. Paul c o u ld n ’t hav e g o n e anyway because he was
sick. (= it w ould not have been possible for him to go)
 ercises U N I

* ' -nswer the questions with a suggestion. Use could and the words in parentheses.
s r
W here would you like to go on vacation? (to San Diego) W e co u ld go to S a n Diego.
W hat should we have for dinner tonight? (fish) W e __________________________________
W hen should I call Angela? (now) Y o u_________________________________
W hat should I give Ana for her birthday? (a b o o k )___________________________________
W hen should we go and see Tom? (on Friday)________________________________

n some of these sentences, you need could (not can). Change the sentences
..here necessary.
The story can be true) b ut I don’t think it is. co u ld b e tru e ____________
It’s a nice day. W e can go for a walk. O K (could go is also possible)
I’m so angry I can scream._________________________ ___________________________
If you’re hungry, we can have dinner now.__________ ___________________________
It’s so nice here. I can stay here all day,
but unfortunately I have to go._____________________ ___________________________
A: W h ere’s my bag. Have you seen it?
B: No, but it can be in the car.____________________ ___________________________
Peter is a good musician. He plays the flute,
and he can also play the piano._____________________ ___________________________
A: I need to borrow a camera.
B: You can borrow m ine._________________________ ___________________________
The w eather is nice now, but it can change later. ___________________________

Complete the sentences. Use could or could have + appropriate verbs.

. A: W hat should we do tonight?
B: We could go to the movies.
A: I spent a very boring evening at hom e yesterday.
B: W hy did you stay at hom e? Y o u o ut w ith us.
A: T here’s a job advertised in the paper that I think you are really qualified for.
B: I guess I for it, bu t I like my present job.
- A: H ow was your test? Was it hard?
B: It wasn’t so bad. I t ________________ ~ __________worse.
5. A: I got very w et walking hom e in the rain last night.
B: W hy did you walk? Y o u _______________________________a taxi.
A: W here should we m eet tom orrow?
B: W ell, I ______________________________ to your house if you want.

Complete the sentences. Use couldn't or couldn't have + these verbs in the correct form:
-be- be co m e fin d g et live w e ar
I couldnt live in a big city. I’d hate it.
We had a really good vacation. It couldn't ha ve been better.
I _______________________________ that hat. I’d look silly, and people w ould laugh at me.
- W e managed to find the restaurant you recom m ended, but w e ________________________
it w ithout the map that you drew for us.
5. Paul has to get up at 4:00 every m orning. I don’t know how he does it. I
______________________________ up at that tim e every day.
The staff at the hotel was really nice w hen we stayed there last summer. They
____________________________ m ore helpful.
7. A: I tried to call you last week. W e had a party, and I w anted to invite you.
B:_T h at’s nice of you, but I _______________________________ anyway. I was away all
last week.

: rial E: ercises 16-18 (pages 305-307)

 U N I T
Must (You must be tired, etc.)
27
M u st (n o t)

My house is next it m u st be very noisy,

to the freeway.

We use m u s t to say that we feel sure som ething is true:

■ You’ve been traveling all day. You m u s t b e tired.
(Traveling is tiring and you’ve been traveling all day, so you m u s t b e tired.)
■ “Jim is a hard w orker.” “Jim ? You m u s t b e joking. H e ’s very lazy.”
■ I’m sure Sally gave m e her phone num ber. I m u s t have it somewhere.
We use m u s t n o t to say that we feel sure som ething is no t true:
■ T heir car isn’t outside their house. They m u s t n o t b e hom e. (= They m u s t b e out)
it ■ Brian said he would be here by 9:30. It’s 10:00 now, and he’s never late. He m u s t
n o t b e co m in g .
■ They haven’t lived here very long. They m u s t n o t k n o w many people.
Study the structure:
b e (tired / hungry / home, etc.)
I/y o u /h e (etc.) m u s t (n o t) b e (d o in g / c o m in g / jo k in g , etc.)
d o / g e t / k n o w / have, etc.

M u st (n o t) hav e d o n e
For the past, we use m u s t (n o t) h ave d o n e :
■ “W e used to live close to the freeway.” “Did you? It m u s t hav e b e e n noisy.”
■ T here’s nobody at hom e. They m u s t hav e g o n e out.
■ I’ve lost one o f my gloves. I m u s t h av e d ro p p e d it somewhere.
■ She walked past me w itho ut speaking. She m u s t n o t hav e seen me.
■ Tom walked into a wall. He m u s t n o t h av e b e e n lo o k in g w here he was going.
Study the structure:
b e e n (tired / hungry / noisy, etc.)
I/y o u /h e (etc.) m u s t (n o t) hav e b e e n (d o in g / c o m in g / lo o k in g , etc.)
g o n e / d ro p p e d / seen, etc.

C a n ’t and m u s t n o t
It ca n ’t b e true = I believe it is impossible:
■ H ow can you say such a thing? You c a n ’t b e serious!
Com pare c a n ’t and m u s t n o t:
■ A: Joe wants som ething to eat.
■ B: B ut he ju st had lunch. H e c a n ’t b e hungry already. (= it’s impossible that he is h u n g r
because he ju st had lunch)
■ A: I offered Bill som ething to eat, but he didn’t w ant anything.
B: He m u s t n o t b e hungry. (= I’m sure he is not hungry - otherw ise he w ould eat
something)
Can't {I can't sw im , etc.) U n it2 5 A , B M u st (I m ust go, etc.) U n it 3 0 B ,C British English A ppendix 7
 tis e s u n i t jy
►-t ,n must or must not.
I V u've been traveling all day. You m u s t be tired.
1. T hat re sta u ran t________________________ be very good. It’s always full o f people.
That restau ran t_________________________ be very good. It’s always empty.
* Y ou _________________________ be looking forward to going on vacation next week.
■'a ined every day during their vacation, so th e y _________________________ have had
try nice time.
a got here very quickly. Y o u have w alked very fast.

I : -plete each sentence with a verb (one or two words) in the correct form.
I've lost one o f my gloves. I m ust h a ve d r o p p e d it som ewhere.
They haven’t lived here very long. T hey m ust not k n o w m any people.
Ted isn’t at w ork today. H e m u s t__________________________sick.
- Ted wasn’t at w ork last week. H e m u s t__________________________sick.
~ Sarah knows a lot about movies. She m u s t_________________________ to the movies a lot.
Look. Jam es is putting on his hat and coat. H e m u s t_________________________ out.
I left my bike outside last night and now it is gone. Somebody m u s t___________________ it.
I Sue was in a difficult situation w hen she lost h er job. It m ust n o t ________________________
easy for her.
There is a m an walking behind us. H e has been walking behind us for the last 20 m inutes.
He m u s t__________________________us.

■rsd the situations and use the words in parentheses to write sentences with m ust have
z-d must n o t have.
- The phone rang, but I didn’t hear it. (I / asleep) / m u s t h a v e b ee n asleep._____________
I Julie walked past m e w ithou t speaking, (she / see / me) S h e m u s t n o t h a ve s e e n me.
The jacket you bought is very good quality, (it / very expensive)

- I can’t find my um brella. (I / leave / it in the restaurant last night)

Dave passed the exam w ithout studying for it. (the exam / very difficult)

She knew everything about our plans, (she / listen / to our conversation)

Rachel did the opposite o f what I asked her to do. (she / understand / w hat I said)

W hen I woke up this m orning, the light was on. (I / forget / to tu rn it off)

. I was awakened in the night by loud music next door, (the neighbors / have / a party)

Complete the sentences with must n ot or can't,

How can you say such a thing? You c a n t be serious!
T heir car isn’t outside their house. They m u s t n o t be home.
I ju st bought a box of cereal yesterday. I t _________________________ be em pty already.
The Smiths always go on vacation this tim e o f year, but they are still hom e.
T h e y _________________________ be taking a vacation this year.
5. You ju st started filling out your tax form s 10 m inutes ago.
Y o u _________________________ be finished w ith them already!
Eric is a good friend o f A nn’s, but he hasn’t visited her in the hospital.
H e _________________________ know she’s in the hospital.

-a l Exercises 16-18 (pages 305-307) 55

May and might 1

Study this example situation:

You are looking for Bob. Nobody is sure where he is, but you get some suggestions.

He may be in his office. (= perhaps he is in his office)

W here's Bob? He might be having lunch. (= perhaps he is having lunch)

Ask A nn. She might know. (= perhaps she knows)

We use m a y or m ig h t to say th at som ething is a possibility. Usually, you can use m ay or m ig h t,

so you can say:
■ It m ay be true, or It m ig h t be true. (= perhaps it is true)
■ She m ig h t know, or She m a y know.
The negative forms are m a y n o t and m ig h t n o t:
■ It m ay n o t be true. (= perhaps it isn’t true)
■ She m ig h t n o t w ork here any m ore. (= perhaps she doesn’t w ork here)
Study the structure:
b ee n (true / in his office, etc.)
m ay
I/y o u /h e (etc.) (not) b e (d o in g / w o rk in g / h av in g , etc.)
m ig h t
d o / k n o w / w o rk / w a n t, etc.

For the past we use m a y h ave d o n e or m i g h t h ave d o n e:

■ A: I w onder why Kate didn’t answer the phone.
B: She m a y have b e e n asleep. (= perhaps she was asleep)
■ A: I can’t find my bag anywhere.
B: You m i g h t h ave le ft it in the store. (= perhaps you left it in the store)
■ A: I was surprised th at Sarah wasn’t at the m eeting yesterday.
B: She m ig h t n o t hav e k n o w n about it. (= perhaps she didn’t know)
■ A: I w onder why David was in such a bad m ood yesterday.
B: He m a y n o t have b e e n fe e lin g well. (= perhaps he wasn’t feeling well)
Study the structure:
b ee n (asleep / at hom e, etc.)
m ay
I/y o u /h e (etc.) (n ot) have b ee n (d o in g / w o rk in g / feelin g , etc.)
m ig h t
k n o w n / h a d / w a n te d / left, etc.

C o u ld is similar to m ay and m ig h t:
■ It’s a strange story, bu t it c o u ld b e true. (= it m ay /m igh t be true)
■ You c o u ld h ave le ft your bag in the store. (= you m ay/m ig ht have left it there)
But c o u ld n ’t (negative) is different from m a y n o t and m ig h t n o t. Compare:
■ Sarah c o u ld n ’t h av e g o tte n my message. O therw ise she would have called me.
(= it is not possible th at she got my message)
■ I w onder why Sarah hasn’t called me. I suppose she m ig h t n o t have g o tte n my
message. (= perhaps she didn’t get it, and perhaps she did)

Could Unit 26 M ay / m ight 2 Unit 29 M a y / . . . ? Unit 35 M ig h t w ith if Units 29B, 36C, 38D
Modal Verbs (can/could/w ill/w ould, etc.) Appendix 4
 U N I T
Exercises
28.1 Write these sentences in a different way using may or might.
1. Perhaps Elizabeth is in her office. S h e m ig h t b e in h e r office. OR S h e m a y b e .. .
2. Perhaps Elizabeth is busy .____________________________________________________________
3. Perhaps she is w o rk in g ._____________________________________________________________
4. Perhaps she wants to be alo n e._______________________________________________________
5. Perhaps she was sick yesterday._______________________________________________________
6. Perhaps she w ent hom e early.________________________________________________________
7. Perhaps she had to go hom e early.____________________________________________________
8. Perhaps she was working yesterday.___________________________________________________
In sentences 9-11, use may n ot or might not.
9. Perhaps she doesn’t w ant to see m e .__________________________________________________
10. Perhaps she isn’t working tod ay .______________________________________________________
11. Perhaps she wasn’t feeling well yesterday._____________________________________________

28.2 Complete each sentence with a verb in the correct form.

1. “W h ere’s Sam?” “I’m not sure. He m ight b e ha ving lunch.”
2. “W ho is that m an w ith Anna?” “I’m no t sure. It m ig h t__________________ her brother.”
3. “W ho was the m an we saw w ith Anna yesterday?” “I’m not sure. It m a y ________________
her brother.”
4. “W hat are those people doing by the side o f the road?” “I don’t know. They m ight
__________________for a bus.”
5. “Do you have a stamp?” “No, but ask Sam. He m a y __________________ one.”

28.3 Read the situations and make sentences from the words in parentheses. Use may or might.
1. I can’t find Jeff anywhere. I w onder where he is.
a) (he / go / shopping) H e m a y h a ve g one shopping._______________________________
b) (he / play / tennis) H e m ig h t b e p la yin g tennis.__________________________________
2. I’m looking for Tiffany. Do you know where she is?
a) (she / watch / TV / in her ro o m )_________________________________________________
b) (she / go / o u t ) _________________________________________________________________
3. I can’t find my umbrella. Have you seen it?
a) (it / be / in the c a r)______________________________________________________________
b) (you / leave / in the restaurant last n ig h t)__________________________________________
4. W hy didn’t Dave answer the doorbell? I’m sure he was at hom e at the time.
a) (he / not / hear / the d o o rb e ll)___________________________________________________
b) (he / be / in the sh o w e r)_________________________________________________________

28.4 Complete the sentences using might n ot have . . . or couldn't have . . . .

1. A: D o you think Sarah got the message we left her?
B: N o, she w ould have contacted us. S h e cou/dn t h a v e g o tten it.____________________
2. A: I was surprised Kate wasn’t at the m eeting. Perhaps she didn’t know about it.
B: T hat’s possible. S h e m ig h t n o t h a v e kn o w n a b o u t it._____________________________
3. A: I w onder why they never replied to our letter. D o you think they received it?
B: M aybe not. T h e y _______________________________________________________________.
4. A: I w onder how the fire started. Was it an accident?
B: N o, the police say i t ____________________________________________________________ .
5. A: M ike says he needs to see you. He tried to find you yesterday.
B: Well, h e ______________________________________ very hard. I was in my office all day.
6. A: T he m an you spoke to - are you sure he was Chinese?
B: N o, I’m not sure. H e ___________________________________________________________ .

Additional Exercises 16-18 (pages 305-307)