Modal verbs + past participle

Should (Not) Have + Past Participle

We can use should have + past participle to criticize a past action, or to talk about something you regret in the past. 

• She should have lied when she said the truth. (She should have lied, but she didn't)
• I should have told her the truth from the beginning.
• She should have remembered my instructions. Now it's too late.
• They shouldn't have seen such a horrible movie.
• She shouldn't have done that!
• He shouldn't have forgotten her instructions.

Could Have + Past Participle
We can use could have + past participle to talk about unreal situations in the past. It usually suggests that the power or ability to do something was there, even though the path wasn't chosen.

• I could have been someone bigger. (I had the chance to do so, but I didn't)
• He could have gone to college, but he became a writer instead.
• I could have been rich, but I lost my chance.
• I could have asked her to be my girlfriend.
• I could have got married, but instead I decided to concentrate on my career.

May/Might (Not) Have + Past Participle
We can use may/might have + past participle to talk about uncertain events in the past and to make guesses about past actions.

• She might have lied about her previous job. (We suppose this, we are not completely sure!)
• Someone might have told her to call us.
• Who might have said that?
• She might have known something about the robbery. 
• They might not have seen last part of the movie.
• She might not have recognized me because my face was a bit swollen.
• The bathroom might not have cleaned when inspectors complained about it.

Also, to make deductions about what activities were in progress in the past, we can use the continuous form:

• When she told you that, she might have been lying.
• Someone might have been seeing the car when the accident happened.
• They might have been talking when they were interrupted.
• She might not have been concentrating when she made the mistake.
• She might not have been thinking when she took that decision.
• He might not have been listening when the teacher said his same.

Must Have + Past Participle

We can use must have + past participle to express conclusions about events in the past.

• She must have lied when she told you that. (We are almost sure that she lied)
• Someone must have been seeing the car when the accident happened.
• The sidewalks are wet, it must have rained overnight.
• It must have been love but it's over now. (Roxette song)
• He must have drunk all the milk, there is none left!
• He's not answering the phone. He must have gone out.

Also, we can use the continuous form:

• She must have been listening behind the door.
• Someone must have been seeing the car when the accident happened.
• He must have been doing something bad when the teacher saw him.
• She must not have been listening when the teacher said her name.

To express negative conclusions, suggesting that something is impossible we use the form: Can not have + past participle. (Warning, don't make this mistake > "She mustn't have been sick")

• She can't have lied when she told you that.
• The sidewalks are dried, it can't have rained overnight.
• He can't have drunk the milk, he wasn't here yesterday.
• She can't have been listening behind the door because she doesn't do those kind of things.
• He can't have been doing something wrong because he behaves very well.

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Irregular verbs

> Click on words to see a definition

Infinitive Past simple Past participle be was/were been beat beat beaten become became become begin began begun bend bent bent bet bet bet bite bit bitten blow blew blown break broke broken bring brought brought broadcast broadcast broadcast build built built burst burst burst buy bought bought catch caught caught choose chose chosen come came come cost cost cost creep crept crept cut cut cut deal dealt dealt dig dug dug do did done draw drew drawn drink drank drunk drive drove driven eat ate eaten fall fell fallen feed fed fed feel felt felt fight fought fought find found found flee fled fled fly flew flown forbid forbade forbidden forget forgot forgotten forgive forgave forgiven freeze froze frozen

Infinitive Past simple Past participle get got got give gave given go went gone grow grew grown hang hung hung have had had hear heard heard hide hid hidden hit hit hit hold held held hurt hurt hurt keep kept kept kneel knelt knelt know knew known lay laid laid lead led led lend lent lent lie lay lain light lit lit lose lost lost make made made mean meant meant meet met met pay paid paid put put put read read read ride rode ridden ring rang rung rise rose risen run ran run say said said see saw seen seek sought sought sell sold sold send sent sent set set set sew sewed sewn/sewed shake shook shaken

Infinitive Past simple Past participle shine shone shone shoot shot shot show showed shown/showed shrink shrank shrunk shut shut shut sing sang sung sink sank sunk sit sat sat sleep slept slept slide slid slid speak spoke spoken spend spent spent spit spat spat split split split spread spread spread spring sprang sprung stand stood stood steal stole stolen stick stuck stuck sting stung stung strike struck struck swear swore sworn sweep swept swept swim swam swum swing swung swung take took taken teach taught taught tear tore torn tell told told think thought thought throw threw thrown understand understood understood wake woke woken wear wore worn weep wept wept win won won write wrote written

Unless, as long as, provided, providing

Unless (Except if, Only if)

• You can't touch that unless you buy it
• You can't open it unless you have the key
• I'll see you tomorrow unless I have to work late
• Can I buy those shoes? - Not unless you need them
• We can take a taxi to the restaurant - (unless you'd prefer to walk) or (unless you'd rather walk)
• You can't go into the party unless you are invited
• Can I tell her my opinion? Not unless she asks you
• Unless you have a car, it's difficult to get there
• Unless you speak slowly, she won't be able to understand you
• Unless you study more, you won't pass the exam
• Unless we leave now, we'll be late
• I'm not going out unless it stop raining

As long as / So long as / Providing (that) / Provided (that) (If, On condition that)

• You can touch that as long as you buy it
• You can borrow my camera as long as you promise to look after it
• You can drive so long as you promise to drive carefully
• Having a car is convenient providing (that) you can afford it
• Travelling by plane is convenient provided you don't have afraid of flying
• You can lift weigh providing your doctor approves it
• Providing the weather is good, we're going to have a picnic
• Providing I have enough money for tickets, we'll go to the concert

Although, though, even though, in spite of, despite

Although (Although + subject + verb)

• Although it rained a lot, they enjoyed their vacations
• Although the traffic was bad we arrived on time
• I didn't get the job although I had the necessary qualifications
• I couldn't sleep although I was very tired
• I couldn't sleep though I was very tired
• Even though I was very angry, I didn't shout to them

Notes

• In spoken English we often use though instead of although
• Sometimes we use even though as an stronger form of although

In spite of / Despite (In spite of / Despite + Noun or pronoun or -ing)

• In spite of / Despite the rain, they enjoyed their vacations
• In spite of / Despite what I said yesterday, I still love you
• I didn't get the job in spite of / despite having the necessary qualifications
• In spite of / Despite the traffic, we arrive on time
• I couldn't sleep in spite of / despite being very tired

Notes

• After in spite of / despite we can add the words "the fact that" to allow us connect the whole sentence with a subject followed by a verb:
• In spite of the fact that it rained a lot, we enjoyed our vacations.
• In spite of the fact that I had the necessary qualifications, I didn't get the job.
• Despite the fact I was very tired, I couldn't sleep very well

Active voice Vs. Passive voice

Active voice questions (Auxiliary + Subject + Present/Past participle)

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	What did she do?	What does she do?	What will she do?
Continuous (Present participle)	What was she doing?	What is she doing?	What will she be doing?
Perfect (Past participle)	What had she done?	What has she done?	What will she have done?
Perfect continuous (Present participle)	What had she been doing?	What has she been doing?	What will she have been doing?

Active voice responses (Subject + Auxiliary + Present/Past participle)

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	She wrote a letter	She writes a letter	She will write a letter
Continuous (Present participle)	She was writing a letter	She is writing a letter	She will be writing a letter
Perfect (Past participle)	She had written a letter	She has written a letter	She will have written a letter
Perfect continuous (Present participle)	She had been writing a letter	She has been writing a letter	She will have been writing a letter

Passive voice questions (Auxiliary + Subject + Past participle)

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	Was a letter written?	Is a letter written?	Will a letter be written?
Continuous (Present participle)	Was a letter being written?	Is a letter being written?	Will a letter be being written?
Perfect	Had a letter been written?	Has a letter been written?	Will a letter have been written?
Perfect continuous	Had a letter been being written?	Has a letter been being written?	Will a letter have been being written?

Passive voice responses (Subject + Auxiliary + Past participle)

	Past	Present	Future
Simple	A letter was written	A letter is written	A letter will be written
Continuous (Present participle)	A letter was being written	A letter is being written	A letter will be being written
Perfect	A letter had been written	A letter has been written	A letter will have been written
Perfect continuous	A letter had been being written	A letter has been being written	A letter will have been being written

Every, Some, Any, No + (One/Body/Thing/...)

All these words are singular, so we always use a singular verb with them.

Anyone / Anybody / Anything

• We use anyone in questions and negative sentences
• Is there anyone in the garden?
• There isn't anyone in the garden
• Is anyone there?
• Does anyone have a pen?
• Has anyone ever seen the statue of liberty?
• I don't know anyone at this party
• I don't have anyone to go out

Someone / Somebody / Something

• Some is never used in questions or negative sentences, except for offering food or beverages.
• Would you like something to drink?
• Would you like some Sausage?
• There is someone in the garden
• There is someone on the phone
• There is someone who has a pen
• Someone knows the truth

Everyone / Everybody / Everything

• We use everyone as the opposite of no-one. (It's never used in questions or negative sentences)
• Everyone is in the garden
• Everyone knows that I'm not lying
• Everyone in the class has a either a pen or a pencil

No-one / Nobody / Nothing

• We use no-one as the opposite of everyone. (It's never used in questions or negative sentences)
• No-one is in the garden
• No-one knows the truth
• No-one in the class has neither a pen nor a pencil
• No-one has neither the time to listen, nor the patience to write it 

Either, Neither, Both - Any, None, All

We use either, neither and both for two things

Either (OR) "One or the other"

• When it is followed by of, a singular verb is preferred: Has either of you seen my pants?. However in informal situations a plural verb could also be used: Have either of you seen my pants?
• When it is followed by or, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that comes after the or. a)Either John or Alice has my keys, b)Either John or his brothers have my keys, c) Either you or I am crazy, d) Either I or you are crazy.
• If one noun or pronoun refers to a female person and the other to a male person, it's used both a plural verb and a plural pronouns: If either John or Alice knows the answer, please ask them for help.
• A special use of either is in conjunctions, where it is perfectly acceptable to use it for three or more things or people: For your car's color, you can chose either red, black, yellow or orange.
• Negative form: You can't use either a pen or a pencil to paint
• Examples: a) You can use either a pen or a pencil to write, b) You must either pay up or leave, c) You can have either red wine or white wine.

Neither (NOR) "Neither the first one nor the second one"

• In standard English (more appropriate), neither on its own is used with a singular verb: Neither of her parents is alive. However in informal situations a plural verb is completely acceptable: Neither of her parents are alive.
• When it is followed by nor, the verb agrees with the noun or pronoun that comes after the nor. a) Neither John nor Alice has my keys, b) Neither John nor his brothers have my keys, c) Neither you nor I am crazy, d) Neither I nor you are crazy.
• If one noun or pronoun refers to a female person and the other to a male person, it's used both a plural verb and a plural pronouns: If neither John nor Alice knows the answer, please ask Peter for help.
• Neither must not be used in negative sentences.
• Examples: Neither a pen nor a pencil is suitable to paint.

Both (AND) "The first one and the second one"

• Both indicates that the action or state denoted by the verb applies individually to each of two entities. Both books weigh more than five pounds, for example, means that each book weighs more than five pounds by itself, not that the two books weighed together come to more than five pound.
• Examples: a) Both of her parents are alive, b) Both children are such dolls, c) Both you and I are students, d) Both guest have arrived, e) We are both candidates, f) The mother of both, g) In both in India and China live people.
• Negative form of both could be constructed using neither.
• Examples: Both a pen and a pencil are suitable to write.

We use any, none and all for more than two things

Any "One of them, doesn't matter which one"

• In general and preferably any takes a plural verb, however it is also acceptable to use a singular verb.
• When the pronoun any refers to a single thing, it takes a singular verb: Any member who wishes to renew their subscription should go to the office. When it is used with reference to a group of people or things, it is usual to use a plural verb: Are any of your friends coming?
• When the adjective any is applied to a singular noun referring to a male or female person, it's used a plural pronouns: Any member who wishes to renew their subscription should go to the office.
• Examples: a) I can ask to any of my friends.

None "Nobody/Not one/etc..."

• In a plural context both a singular and a plural verb can follows the sentence. However, in general, a plural verb is preferred because sounds more natural and unaffected. Furthermore, It has the advantage that avoid conflicts when the sex of the referent is unknown or unspecified: None of the students were misunderstood at the conference.
• Examples: a) None of my friends know the answer, b) None of my guests were there, c) None of our dancers are as talented as the Italians, d) None of those numbers are odd .

All "All of them/All of those/..."

• All takes always a plural verb.
• Examples: a) All of my friends know the answer, b) All the hotels were full, c) All your things are mine, d) All of these coins are mine, e) All of us enjoyed the party.