/Modal Verbs
B2Modal Verbs

Could/Should/Would Have

1

What is it?

"Could have", "should have", and "would have" are perfect modal constructions used to talk about past possibilities, regrets, and criticism. They express what was possible, what was the right thing to do, or what would have happened under different circumstances — but didn't.

2

How to form it

SubjectPositiveNegativeQuestion
Could have + past participleShe could have won if she'd trained harder.He couldn't have known — the news wasn't out.Could you have helped if you'd been there?
Should have + past participleYou should have called before coming.I shouldn't have eaten so much.Should she have taken the other job?
Would have + past participleI would have helped if you'd asked.She wouldn't have come if she'd known.Would you have done the same?
  • • "Could have" = past possibility or missed opportunity.
  • • "Should have" = past advice or criticism — the right thing was not done.
  • • "Shouldn't have" = past action was wrong or regrettable.
  • • "Would have" = hypothetical past result (used in third conditional).
  • • "Couldn't have" = past impossibility.
  • • All three follow the same structure: modal + have + past participle.
3

When to use it

  1. 1

    "Could have" — missed past opportunity

    She could have been a professional singer, but she gave up.

  2. 2

    "Could have" — past possibility (maybe happened)

    He could have taken a different route — I'm not sure.

  3. 3

    "Should have" — the right action was not taken (criticism/regret)

    You should have arrived earlier — the meeting started without you.

  4. 4

    "Shouldn't have" — an action was wrong or unnecessary

    I shouldn't have said that — she was very hurt.

  5. 5

    "Would have" — hypothetical past result

    If I had known, I would have helped.

  6. 6

    "Couldn't have" — past impossibility

    She couldn't have left yet — I just saw her upstairs.

4

Common mistakes

You should have study harder.

You should have studied harder.

After "should have", use the past participle — not the base form.

I could have went there.

I could have gone there.

Use the past participle of "go" — "gone", not "went".

She would have came if she'd known.

She would have come if she'd known.

"Come" is an irregular verb — past participle is "come", not "came".

5

Quick reference

  • "Could have" = missed opportunity or past possibility.
  • "Should have" = the right thing wasn't done (regret / criticism).
  • "Shouldn't have" = an action was wrong or unnecessary.
  • "Would have" = hypothetical past result (third conditional).
  • "Couldn't have" = past impossibility.
  • All take: modal + have + past participle.
6

Natural conversation example

Two friends are discussing a difficult situation at work.

K

Kenji

I can't believe I didn't get the promotion. I worked so hard.
S

Sofia

You should have spoken to your manager about your achievements earlier.
K

Kenji

I know. I should have kept better records of my projects.
S

Sofia

You could have asked HR about the criteria before applying.
K

Kenji

I would have done that if I'd known it was so competitive.
S

Sofia

And you really shouldn't have taken that week off right before the review.
K

Kenji

I know — I couldn't have timed it worse. That was a mistake.
S

Sofia

Well, you know what to do next time. You could still make it happen.

Practice Exercises

Fill in the blank with the correct perfect modal.

  1. 1.
    You __ (call) before arriving — I wasn't home. (criticism)
  2. 2.
    She __ (be) a great musician if she hadn't stopped practising. (missed opportunity)
  3. 3.
    I __ (help) you if you'd asked me. (hypothetical)
  4. 4.
    We __ (take) the earlier train — then we wouldn't have been late. (regret)
  5. 5.
    He __ (know) — the report was classified. (impossibility)
  6. 6.
    I __ (go) to Paris last year but I was ill. (missed opportunity)
  7. 7.
    You __ (say) that — she's very sensitive. (regret about past action)
  8. 8.
    If they had invested earlier, they __ (make) a fortune. (hypothetical)
  9. 9.
    She __ (arrive) earlier — she had plenty of time. (criticism)
  10. 10.
    I __ (eat) so much — I feel terrible now. (regret)
Negative ModalsAll TopicsWould

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