Unit 3I Lead-inII Language Structures Modal auxiliaries1
would + perfect infinitive used to express “unfulfilled wish”
I would have liked to sign up, but I sprained my ankle
should /ought to + perfect infinitive used to express “unfulfilled obligation”needn’t + perfect infinitive expressing “unnecessary past actions ”
1) She should/ ought to have had more oral practice during the term
2) She needn ’t have learned all the dialogues by heart
may /might + perfect infinitive used to expre ss “speculations about past actions ”can /could not + perfect infinitive used to express “negative deduction about pastactions ”
1)He may/might have gone to the library
2) She can’t/couldn ’t have gone to the library
must + perfect infinitive used to express “affirmative deduction about past ac