On utilise les modaux suivis de HAVE + Participe Passé pour exprimer des regrets, des critiques ou des déductions sur le passé.

1. Le Regret ou la Critique : Should have

Should have : On aurait dû faire quelque chose (mais on ne l’a pas fait).
- I should have studied harder.
Shouldn’t have : On n’aurait pas dû (mais on l’a fait).
- You shouldn’t have said that to her.

2. La Déduction : Must have / Can’t have

Must have : On est presque sûr que quelque chose est arrivé.
- He is late. He must have missed his train.
Can’t have : On est sûr que quelque chose n’est pas arrivé.
- She can’t have seen me, I was in another room.

On imagine une possibilité qui ne s’est pas réalisée.
- You could have died! (Tu aurais pu mourir - mais tu es vivant).
- He might have forgotten our meeting. (Il a peut-être oublié).

Complète avec le bon modal au passé.

#1 I failed the test. I

(study) more.

#2 He's not here. He

(forget) about our lunch.

#3 You

(tell) her the truth. Now she's angry.

#4 She

(see) the thief. She was sleeping!

#5 I

(buy) that car. It was a bargain!

#6 He

(be) at home. I saw his car in the drive.

#7 You

(be) more careful. You almost fell!

#8 Where is my phone? I

(leave) it at the restaurant.

#9 He

(steal) the money. He's the most honest person I know.

#10 I

(listen) to your advice.