PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT

THE PAST

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

spec·u·la·tion: Reasoning based on supposition; A conclusion, opinion, or theory reached by conjecture.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

spec·u·la·tion: Reasoning based on supposition; A conclusion, opinion, or theory reached by conjecture.

In English, we can make speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present and about the past.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

Jack

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

…or She might be lost.

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

…or She might be lost.

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Jack thinks maybe she is lost.

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

…or She might be lost.

…or She may still be working.

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Jack thinks maybe she is lost.

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

…or She might be lost.

…or She may still be working.

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Jack thinks maybe she is lost.

Jack thinks maybe she is still working.

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

…or She might be lost.

…or She may still be working.

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Jack thinks maybe she is lost.

Jack thinks maybe she is still working.

Jack is supposing or making speculations about present things.

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Mary is not here yet. She must be on her way*.

*be on her way: estar en camino

…or She might be lost.

…or She may still be working.

Jack

Jack supposes she is on her way.

Jack thinks maybe she is lost.

Jack thinks maybe she is still working.

Jack is supposing or making speculations about present things.

He uses:MightMayMust

Verb

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the PAST.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.

To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.

To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:

MODAL VERB FOR SPECULATIONS:

MAYMIGHTCOULDMUST

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.

To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:

MODAL VERB FOR SPECULATIONS:

MAYMIGHTCOULDMUST

…IN PERFECT FORM:

MAY HAVEMIGHT HAVECOULD HAVEMUST HAVE

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.

To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:

MODAL VERB FOR SPECULATIONS:

MAYMIGHTCOULDMUST

…IN PERFECT FORM:

MAY HAVEMIGHT HAVECOULD HAVEMUST HAVE

…and…

THE PASSIVE VOICE:

BEEN

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Confused???

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Don’t worry. Look at the following examples…

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

What happened here?

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

What happened here?(look, this is a question in past)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

What happened here?(look, this is a question in past)

They crashed their cars.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

What happened here?(look, this is a question in past)

They crashed their cars.(see? Everything is in past)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

What happened here?(look, this is a question in past)

They crashed their cars.(see? Everything is in past)

You don’t really know what happened here, therefore*, you can only speculate or suppose or

imagine what occurred. *therefore: Por lo tanto.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.

MIGHTMAY

COULD

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.

MIGHTMAY

COULDHAVE BEEN

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.

MIGHTMAY

COULDHAVE BEEN

VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.

MIGHTMAY

COULDHAVE BEEN

VERB IN PAST PARTICIPLE

THIS STRUCTURE IS USED TO SPECULATE ABOUT THE PAST

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Look at more examples…

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”

“I don’t know. They may have been built by giant people.”

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”

“I don’t know. They may have been built by giant people.”

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”

“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”

“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”(debieron haber sido movidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”

“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”

“They must not have been transported by people, maybe machines.”

(debieron haber sido movidas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”

“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”

“They must not have been transported by people, maybe machines.”

(debieron haber sido movidas)

(no debieron haber sido transportadas)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did this crater happen?”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did this crater happen?”

“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did this crater happen?”

“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”(tuvo que haber sido causado)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did this crater happen?”

“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”

“They, also say that it couldn not have been done by people.”

(tuvo que haber sido causado)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

“How did this crater happen?”

“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”

“They, also say that it couldn not have been done by people.”

(tuvo que haber sido causado)

(no pudo haber sido hecho)

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Notice this…

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Notice this…

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Notice this…

If you are not certain or sure of something, use “Might, May or Could”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient

times.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built

by aliens.”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Notice this…

If you are not certain or sure of something, use “Might, May or Could”

If you are almost certain or sure of

something, use “Must”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient

times.”

“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by

slaves.”

“They must not have been transported by people,

maybe machines.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built

by aliens.”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Notice this…

If you are not certain or sure of something, use “Might, May or Could”

If you are almost certain or sure of

something, use “Must”

If you are very certain or sure of something, use “have to and couldn’t”

“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient

times.”

“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by

slaves.”

“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been

caused by a meteorite.”

“They, also say that it couldn not have been

done by people.”

“They must not have been transported by people,

maybe machines.”

“I don’t know. They could have been built

by aliens.”

PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

Thank you!!!