Perfect Modal Verbs (ANSWERS)

Part A.
Directions: Complete each question or sentence with should have
or could have, and a main verb. (10 points)
For example: You ________ ________ __________ (be) more helpful to that
elderly woman. (advice)
* should have = past advice, capability, or responsibility / * could
have = past possibility
1. I could have helped (help) you last weekend if you had asked.
(possibility)
2. He should have talked (talk) to the doctor about his stomach pains.
(advice)
3. Could they have done (do) all that work already? (possibility)
4. Maria could have eaten (eat) that whole pizza by herself--she was so
hungry! (possibility)
5. My students should have finished (finish) their assignment by now.
(capability)
6. Shouldn't that company have paid (pay) their employees on time?
(responsibility)
7. Why couldn't you have met (meet) my earlier? Now we don't have
any time. (possibility)
8. The disaster should never have happened. It was preventable.
(possibility)
9. President Bush should have told (tell) the American people they
needed to make more personal sacrifices once the Iraq War began.
(responsibility)
10. You should have been (be) able to complete the test within 60
minutes. (capability -- in this sentence, "complete" is the main verb. That
means there are seven words in the verb phrase!)

Part B.
Directions: Complete each sentence or question with would have
or should have and a main verb. (10 points)
* would have = past tense of will
capability, or responsibility

* should have = past advice,

1. If I had known you were coming, I would have made (make) extra
cookies.
2. We should have fixed (fix) the leak in the roof before the storm made
it worse.
3. You shouldn't have gone (go) into that strange house if it was empty.
4. It would have taken (take) longer to get dinner made without your
help.
5. Before going to the beach, they should have checked (check) the
weather because it rained.
6. The doctor told her she should have been (be) on a diet the last few
years.
7. The party would have been (be) more fun if you were there.
8. My friend would have made (make) a lot of money if he had sold his
stock in the company earlier.
9. I would have done (do) anything just to spend a few more hours with
you.
10. They really shouldn't have gotten married (marry) so fast.