Project perfect modals in the passive voice for speculating about the past.

1. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE
VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT
THE PAST

2. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
spec·u·la·tion: Reasoning based on supposition; A conclusion, opinion, or theory
reached by conjecture.

3. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
spec·u·la·tion: Reasoning based on supposition; A conclusion, opinion, or theory
reached by conjecture.
In English, we can make speculations, conjunctures or
suppositions about the present and about the past.

4. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
Jack

5. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

6. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
…or She might be lost.
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

7. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
…or She might be lost.
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Jack thinks maybe she is
lost.
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

8. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
…or She might be lost.
…or She may still be
working.
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Jack thinks maybe she is
lost.
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

9. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
…or She might be lost.
…or She may still be
working.
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Jack thinks maybe she is
lost.
Jack thinks maybe she is
still working.
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

10. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
…or She might be lost.
…or She may still be
working.
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Jack thinks maybe she is
lost.
Jack thinks maybe she is
still working.
Jack is supposing or making speculations about
present things.
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

11. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Mary is not here yet. She
must be on her way*.
*be on her way: estar en camino
…or She might be lost.
…or She may still be
working.
Jack
Jack supposes she is on her
way.
Jack thinks maybe she is
lost.
Jack thinks maybe she is
still working.
Jack is supposing or making speculations about
present things.
He uses:
Might
May
Must
Verb
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the present.

12. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Speculations, conjunctures or
suppositions about the PAST.

13. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.
To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:

14. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.
To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:
MODAL VERB FOR
SPECULATIONS:
MAY
MIGHT
COULD
MUST

15. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.
To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:
MODAL VERB FOR
SPECULATIONS:
MAY
MIGHT
COULD
MUST
…IN PERFECT FORM:
MAY HAVE
MIGHT HAVE
COULD HAVE
MUST HAVE

16. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Speculations, conjunctures or suppositions about the past.
To speculate about the PAST you need to use two structures:
MODAL VERB FOR
SPECULATIONS:
MAY
MIGHT
COULD
MUST
…IN PERFECT FORM:
MAY HAVE
MIGHT HAVE
COULD HAVE
MUST HAVE
…and…
THE PASSIVE VOICE:
BEEN

17. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Confused???

18. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Don’t worry. Look at the following examples…

19. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST

20. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
What happened here?

21. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
What happened here?
(look, this is a question in past)

22. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
What happened here?
(look, this is a question in past)
They crashed their cars.

23. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
What happened here?
(look, this is a question in past)
They crashed their cars.
(see? Everything is in past)

24. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
What happened here?
(look, this is a question in past)
They crashed their cars.
(see? Everything is in past)
You don’t really know what happened here,
therefore*, you can only speculate or suppose or
imagine what occurred.
*therefore: Por lo tanto.

25. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got
distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.

26. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got
distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.
He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.

27. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got
distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.
He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.
MIGHT
MAY
COULD

28. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got
distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.
He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.
MIGHT
MAY
COULD
HAVE BEEN

29. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got
distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.
He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.
MIGHT
MAY
COULD
HAVE BEEN
VERB IN PAST
PARTICIPLE

30. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
He might have been called by his wife and when he answered the phone, he got
distracted and didn’t see the lady coming.
He could have been distracted by his cell phone and didn’t see the lady coming.
MIGHT
MAY
COULD
HAVE BEEN
VERB IN PAST
PARTICIPLE
THIS STRUCTURE IS USED TO SPECULATE ABOUT THE PAST

31. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Look at more examples…

32. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”

33. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”
“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”

34. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”
“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

35. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”
“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”
“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

36. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”
“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”
“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

37. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”
“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”
“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”
“I don’t know. They may have been built by giant people.”
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

38. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“Who built the statues in the Isla de Pascua in Chile?”
“I don’t know. They might have been built by the local people in ancient times.”
“I don’t know. They could have been built by aliens.”
“I don’t know. They may have been built by giant people.”
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)
(Pudieron haber sido construidas)

39. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”

40. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”
“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”

41. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”
“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”
(debieron haber sido movidas)

42. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”
“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”
“They must not have been transported by people, maybe machines.”
(debieron haber sido movidas)

43. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did they move those big rocks to build the pyramid of Giza?”
“ I read in a book that they must have been moved by slaves.”
“They must not have been transported by people, maybe machines.”
(debieron haber sido movidas)
(no debieron haber sido transportadas)

44. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did this crater happen?”

45. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did this crater happen?”
“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”

46. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did this crater happen?”
“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”
(tuvo que haber sido causado)

47. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did this crater happen?”
“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”
“They, also say that it couldn not have been done by people.”
(tuvo que haber sido causado)

48. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
“How did this crater happen?”
“ Scientist are sure that it had to have been caused by a meteorite.”
“They, also say that it couldn not have been done by people.”
(tuvo que haber sido causado)
(no pudo haber sido hecho)

49. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Notice this…

50. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Notice this…

51. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Notice this…
If you are not certain or
sure of something, use
“Might, May or Could”
“I don’t know. They might
have been built by the
local people in ancient
times.”
“I don’t know. They
could have been built
by aliens.”

52. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Notice this…
If you are not certain or
sure of something, use
“Might, May or Could”
If you are almost
certain or sure of
something, use “Must”
“I don’t know. They might
have been built by the
local people in ancient
times.”
“ I read in a book that they
must have been moved by
slaves.”
“They must not have been
transported by people,
maybe machines.”
“I don’t know. They
could have been built
by aliens.”

53. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Notice this…
If you are not certain or
sure of something, use
“Might, May or Could”
If you are almost
certain or sure of
something, use “Must”
If you are very certain or
sure of something, use
“have to and couldn’t”
“I don’t know. They might
have been built by the
local people in ancient
times.”
“ I read in a book that they
must have been moved by
slaves.”
“ Scientist are sure that
it had to have been
caused by a meteorite.”
“They, also say that it
couldn not have been
done by people.”
“They must not have been
transported by people,
maybe machines.”
“I don’t know. They
could have been built
by aliens.”

54. PERFECT MODALS IN THE PASSIVE VOICE FOR SPECULATING ABOUT THE PAST
Thank you!!!