There was so much traffic. There ….. been an accident.
Must have
She was very upset you didn't go to her birthday party. You _____________ (go).
She was very upset you didn't go to her birthday party. You should have gone.
The dog ___________ (eat) the steak because no one else was at home.
The dog must have eaten the steak because no one else was at home.
You _____________ (come) to the pub on Saturday. We had a great time.
You should have come to the pub on Saturday. We had a great time.
We'll ask at the reception desk. Someone ….. handed the keys in.
Must have
The lights are out. They ______________ (go) to sleep.
The lights are out. They might have gone to sleep.
She _________ (leave) the office because her coat and bag aren’t here.
She must have left the office because her coat and bag aren’t here.
They ______ studied harder for the exam; they didn’t do very well. (Studying more would have likely improved their performance.)
should have
She _____________ (change) her mind. I'm not sure.
She might have changed her mind. I'm not sure.
It’s possible that they got lost on their way here.
They might have gotten lost on their way here.
She ______ (should have / can have / can’t have) known about the surprise party; she looked so shocked. (Given her shocked reaction, you deduce that it was impossible for her to have known.)
can't have
I have no doubt he broke the vase because he was the only one in the room.
He must have broken the vase; he was the only one in the room.
I ______ spent so much money on clothes last month. (You feel regret or realize that spending less would have been better.)
shouldn't have
You ______________ (call) her on her birthday. She never forgets to call you.
You should have called her on her birthday. She never forgets to call you.
She ______ have made such a big decision without discussing it with us. (You strongly feel it was unwise or not right for her to decide alone.)
couldn't have
I explained it to her but she … misunderstood - my Japanese isn't very good.
Might have
When you are on a diet, you ____________ drink a lot of water.
When you are on a diet, you must drink a lot of water.
You should pick up the phone. It ________ be an important call.
It might be an important call.
They ______ (could have / would have / should have) left earlier to avoid the traffic, but they didn’t. (Leaving earlier would have been the wiser choice, as it would have helped avoid traffic.)
should have
You ______ forgotten your keys; I found them on the counter. (Seeing the keys, you deduce that they left them behind accidentally.)
must have
He _______ know the answer, he's the best.
He must know the answer, he's the best.
She didn’t study enough, and that’s why she failed the exam.
She should have studied more to pass the exam.
Sarah ______ (should have / would have / must have) gone to the meeting yesterday, but she forgot. (Attending the meeting was the right thing for Sarah to do; it was her responsibility.)
should have
She ________ be in love with him. She told me she hates him.
She can't be in love with him.
You ____________ (not mention) her weight. She was very upset.
You shouldn't have mentioned her weight. She was very upset.
He ______ (might have / couldn’t have / must have) seen her, as he was out of town all weekend. (Because he wasn’t in town, it would be impossible for him to have seen her.)
couldn't have
He _________ be at the gym now. Sometimes he goes there at this time.
He might be at the gym now.
The team ______ practiced more to win the championship. (Additional practice might have improved their chances of winning.)
should have
He ….. gone to Russia. He doesn't have a passport.
Can’t have
You _____________ (bother) to wash up. I would have put everything in the dishwasher.
You needn't have bothered to wash up. I would have put everything in the dishwasher.
You ___________ come to us for dinner. I won't accept no for an answer.
You must come to us for dinner. I won't accept no for an answer.
You look great in white. You _________ wear it more often.
You look great in white. You should wear it more often.
You ___________ (not shout) at Samantha.
You shouldn't have shouted at Samantha.
You ___________ (not spend) so much money. You'll have problems from now on.
You shouldn't have spent so much money. You'll have problems from now on.
Nobody told her anything about the argument. She _____ (not know) about it.
Nobody told her anything about the argument. She couldn't have known about it.
He ______ known about the accident, as no one had told him yet. (Since no one informed him, there’s no way he could have known.)
couldn't have
We ___________ (order) so much food. We can't eat it all.
We shouldn't have ordered so much food. We can't eat it all.
I found the book easily. You ___________ (not look) very hard for it.
I found the book easily. You couldn't have looked very hard for it.
We arrived too early. We ______ (be) in such a hurry.
We arrived too early. We shouldn't have been in such a hurry.
He ________ be in class. I saw him at the library.
He can't be in class.
The kids ______ (could have / must have / should have) eaten all the cookies; the jar is empty! (Based on the evidence (an empty jar), you’re quite certain the kids are responsible.)
must have
__________ I have a piece of cake, please?
Could I have a piece of cake, please?
You ….. seen her. She was standing next to you.
Must have
Who's at the door? I don't know, it ________ be John.
I don't know, it may be John.
A: James was at the party last night. B: He been. He's in Mexico.
Can’t have
No one's answering. They _________________________ (go out).
No one's answering. They might have gone out.
You ________ be right, but it's better if we check.
You might be right, but it's better if we check.
The phone is ringing. It ____________ be Charlotte; she said she would call.
It must be Charlotte.
Tomorrow is a holiday, so we _________________ get up early.
Tomorrow is a holiday, so we don't have to get up early.
He __________ reach it. He's not tall enough.
He can't reach it. He's not tall enough.
We ______ called to confirm the reservation, but we didn't think of it. (Calling would have been a good idea to ensure the reservation was secured.)
should have
She ______ brought her laptop to work, but she forgot it at home. (Bringing her laptop would have been helpful or a good idea.)
should have
The doctor says I __________ get more exercise.
The doctor says I must get more exercise.
I don't know why there weren't any buses yesterday. There ..… been a strike, but I'm really not sure.
Could have
8) I ….. let you know what was happening but I forgot.
Should have
This is not possible. You ___________ be serious!
You can't be serious!
His arm is broken, so he ____________ write.
His arm is broken, so he can't write.
He stopped the car so he ___________ rest for a while.
He stopped the car so he could rest for a while.
I saw his car in front of the building. He ….. been here.
Must have
I ___________ (drive) to work, but the weather was so nice that I decided to walk.
I could have driven to work, but the weather was so nice that I decided to walk.
She's really shy. You _________ (tell) her you liked her.
She's really shy. You should have told her you liked her.
We forgot to water the plants, and that’s probably why they died.
The plants must have died because we forgot to water them.
If he drives a porsche, he ________ be quite rich.
He must be quite rich.
I ________ make people laugh when I was young.
I could make people laugh when I was young.
Tom and Jack are so selfish - they ….. been there for you!
Should have
I ______ (would have / could have / should have) taken my umbrella; it rained so much! (Looking back, you realize that bringing an umbrella would have been the smart thing to do.)
should have
It’s possible that I ____________ (forget) to tell Joe about the meeting.
It's possible that I might have forgotten to tell Joe about the meeting.
We ______ (should have / could have / might have) gone to the beach if it hadn’t rained. (You had the option to go, but rain prevented it.)
could have
She __________ (say) yes to a date. You never know.
She might have said yes to a date. You never know.
You ______ (could have / must have / should have) missed her call; she said she tried multiple times. (Because she called you repeatedly, there’s no doubt you missed it.)
must have