Menu

Les modaux au passé : must have, can't have, should have, could have

Fiche à imprimer : le cours, les trois exercices et le corrigé (sur une page à part). Revenir au cours en ligne

Pour parler du passé avec un modal, on utilise modal + have + participe passé. Le sens dépend du modal.

StructureSensExemple
must have + p.p.déduction quasi certaine (a sûrement...)The ground is wet. It must have rained.
can't / couldn't have + p.p.déduction négative (n'a pas pu...)She can't have seen us. She didn't wave.
may / might have + p.p.hypothèse (a peut-être...)He might have missed the bus.
should have + p.p.reproche, regret (aurait dû)You should have told me!
shouldn't have + p.p.reproche (n'aurait pas dû)I shouldn't have eaten so much.
could have + p.p.possibilité non réalisée (aurait pu)You could have hurt yourself!
needn't have + p.p.action faite mais inutileYou needn't have bought a present. (ce n'était pas la peine)
He must have forgotten. / He should have written it down.
Il a dû oublier. / Il aurait dû le noter.

Attention à la forme : toujours have (jamais has) + participe passé : She must have gone.

Mise en situation : après une soirée ratée

Clara : Where was Adam last night? He said he would come.
Où était Adam hier soir ? Il avait dit qu'il viendrait.
Hugo : He must have forgotten. Or he might have been ill.
Il a dû oublier. Ou il était peut-être malade.
Clara : He can't have forgotten, I reminded him at lunch!
Il ne peut pas avoir oublié, je le lui ai rappelé à midi !
Hugo : Well, he should have called us. We could have waited for hours!
En tout cas, il aurait dû nous appeler. On aurait pu attendre des heures !

À retenir

  • Modal + have + participe passé.
  • must have (sûrement) ; can't have (impossible) ; might have (peut-être).
  • should have (aurait dû) ; shouldn't have (n'aurait pas dû) ; could have (aurait pu).
  • needn't have = ce n'était pas la peine.

Exercice 1 : Les modaux au passé : exercice 1 (QCM)

  1. The road is wet. It ___ rained.
    1. can't have
    2. must have
    3. should have
  2. « Tu aurais dû me le dire. »
    1. You must have told me.
    2. You should have told me.
    3. You should told me.
  3. She ___ seen us: she didn't say hello. (impossible)
    1. should have
    2. must have
    3. can't have
  4. « Il a peut-être raté le train. »
    1. He might has missed the train.
    2. He must missed the train.
    3. He might have missed the train.
  5. « Je n'aurais pas dû manger autant. »
    1. I mustn't have eaten so much.
    2. I shouldn't have eaten so much.
    3. I shouldn't eat so much yesterday.
  6. « Tu aurais pu te blesser ! »
    1. You could hurt yourself yesterday!
    2. You could have hurt yourself!
    3. You can have hurt yourself!
  7. « Il a dû oublier. » (déduction)
    1. He had to forget.
    2. He must have forgotten.
    3. He must has forgotten.
  8. « Ce n'était pas la peine d'acheter un cadeau. »
    1. You needn't have bought a present.
    2. You can't have bought a present.
    3. You mustn't have bought a present.
  9. Choisissez la forme correcte.
    1. She must have gone home.
    2. She must have went home.
    3. She must has gone home.
  10. « Ils n'ont pas pu partir sans nous. »
    1. They shouldn't have leave without us.
    2. They mustn't have left without us.
    3. They can't have left without us.

Exercice 2 : Les modaux au passé : exercice 2 (à compléter)

  1. The lights are off. They must .......................... gone out. (ont dû)
  2. You should have .......................... me! (tell)
  3. He .......................... have stolen it. He was with me all day. (n'a pas pu)
  4. I don't know where she is. She .......................... have gone to the library. (peut-être)
  5. I .......................... have said that. I'm sorry. (n'aurais pas dû)
  6. Be careful! You .......................... have broken your leg! (aurais pu)
  7. She must have .......................... her keys. (forget)
  8. You needn't have .......................... . It wasn't necessary. (come)
  9. They should have .......................... a taxi. (take)
  10. He must have .......................... very tired. (be)

Exercice 3 : Les modaux au passé : mise en situation

  1. Ton amie n'est pas venue : tu supposes qu'elle a oublié.
    1. She had to forget.
    2. She must have forgotten.
    3. She should have forgotten.
  2. Tu reproches à ton frère de ne pas t'avoir prévenu.
    1. You could tell me yesterday!
    2. You must have told me!
    3. You should have told me!
  3. Tu regrettes de ne pas avoir assez révisé.
    1. I must have revised more.
    2. I should have revised more.
    3. I should revise more yesterday.
  4. Ton ami a traversé sans regarder : tu lui fais peur rétrospectivement.
    1. You could have been hit by a car!
    2. You must have been hit by a car!
    3. You can be hit by a car yesterday!
  5. Il est impossible que ton voisin ait vu le voleur : il était absent.
    1. He can't have seen the thief.
    2. He mustn't have seen the thief.
    3. He shouldn't have seen the thief.
  6. Le sol est mouillé : il a sûrement plu cette nuit.
    1. It must have rained last night.
    2. It should have rained last night.
    3. It had to rain last night.
  7. Tu dis que ton prof a peut-être été malade.
    1. He might have been ill.
    2. He might has been ill.
    3. He must been ill.
  8. Ton cousin a apporté un gâteau alors qu'il y en avait déjà : ce n'était pas la peine.
    1. You couldn't have brought a cake.
    2. You mustn't have brought a cake.
    3. You needn't have brought a cake.
  9. Tu t'excuses d'avoir dit quelque chose de méchant.
    1. I mustn't have said that.
    2. I couldn't say that yesterday.
    3. I shouldn't have said that.
  10. Vous avez raté le train : vous auriez dû partir plus tôt.
    1. We must have left earlier.
    2. We should have left earlier.
    3. We should left earlier.

Corrigé

Exercice 1

1. b) must have · 2. b) You should have told me. · 3. c) can't have · 4. c) He might have missed the train. · 5. b) I shouldn't have eaten so much. · 6. b) You could have hurt yourself! · 7. b) He must have forgotten. · 8. a) You needn't have bought a present. · 9. a) She must have gone home. · 10. c) They can't have left without us.

Exercice 2

1. have · 2. told · 3. can't · 4. might · 5. shouldn't · 6. could · 7. forgotten · 8. come · 9. taken · 10. been

Exercice 3

1. b) She must have forgotten. · 2. c) You should have told me! · 3. b) I should have revised more. · 4. a) You could have been hit by a car! · 5. a) He can't have seen the thief. · 6. a) It must have rained last night. · 7. a) He might have been ill. · 8. c) You needn't have brought a cake. · 9. c) I shouldn't have said that. · 10. b) We should have left earlier.