MODAL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE: choose the right form

🧩 The form

modal + have + participe passé

She should have called. · They might have left.

have ne change jamais (she should has) et le verbe est au participe passé (should have call, could have did).

😔 Regrets and criticism

You should have told me. = Tu aurais dû me le dire.

I could have won. = J'aurais pu gagner.

She would have helped you. = Elle t'aurait aidé.

should have / ought to have = aurait dû ; could have = aurait pu ; would have = conditionnel passé.

🔍 Guessing about the past

The ground is wet: it must have rained. = Il a dû pleuvoir (j'en suis presque sûr).

He may / might have missed the bus. = Il se peut / pourrait qu'il ait raté le bus.

She can't have forgotten! = Impossible qu'elle ait oublié !

Attention : « il a dû » = must have (déduction) ou had to (obligation : he had to leave = il a été obligé de partir).

🏛️ With the passive

The window must have been broken by the wind.

The letter may have been lost.

modal + have + been + participe passé : il a dû être cassé, il se peut qu'elle ait été perdue.