Perfect Modals Continuous Grammar
Learn English Perfect Modals Continuous Grammar

Grammar Level 3- Lesson 14- Perfect Modals Continuous Grammar

In this grammar lesson, you learn about Perfect Modals Continuous Grammar in English and how to use it in your English conversation and writing. Just follow examples of perfect modal continuous and write them down a few times to learn them very well. After finishing this lesson, you should work on its quiz.

Grammar Recap

In our previous lesson, we covered the Present Perfect Continuous Tense Grammar If you just landed on this page, we suggest that you complete our previous lesson including its quizzes before continuing on this lesson.

Requirement Lessons

There is no required lessons for working and learning this lesson.

 

Examples of Perfect Modal Continuous

could should would may might must + have been ______ing

I could have been relaxing at home if I didn’t have to work today.

They should have been doing their homework at the time that I called.

He would have been working at that company if he hadn’t been laid off.

You might have been thinking I was much older.
This is a difficult modal form for beginning and intermediate level students. In this case, you’re describing something that was possible in the past; however; another event emerged and forever altered the past. Don’t worry about mastering this right now, but listen to how Americans use it–whether correctly or not.

This penguin could have been swimming in Antarctica today if he hadn’t been captured there two years ago. penguin swimming
They should have been taking a test but instead they skipped school and went to a malt shop.

He would have been working in a bank if he hadn’t decided to become a beekeeper.

He might have been thinking it was earlier. Now he realizes he’s late for a meeting.

(This helps describe problems with perception of time.)

To make the negative, add “not” to the modal:

I shouldn’t have been working so late last night. (but I did)

For more practice, go to this listening exercise.

 

Perfect Modals Continuous Grammar Exercises

Now that you learned your new lesson, it is time to go to the Perfect Modals Continuous page and finish your quiz. While working on your quiz, you can always go back to its lesson to refresh your memory.

Private Lessons in English

If you need help with quizzes of this lesson, you can hire one of our expert private English teachers by going to our Private English Tutoring page and submit a request. When submitting your request, make sure to mention the grammar level and lesson number.

 

Next Grammar Lesson

In our next lesson, we will cover the Past Perfect Tense Grammar Before moving to the next lesson, we suggest that you complete this lesson including its quizzes.

Related Grammar Lessons

None

 

Grammar Level 3 Outline

If you wish to explore all lessons that are covered in HiCafe Grammar Level 3, you can visit the Grammar Level 3 Outline page.

 

Practice English Grammar Skills

For a comprehensive practice of English grammar with quizzes, you can visit the Improve English Grammar Skills page to view HiCafe 250 grammar lessons in 7 levels plus prepositions and pronouns.