This document provides a lesson on using modal verbs like "should have", "ought to have", and "could have" to talk about past actions or states that did not occur but were advisable. It gives examples of using these modal verbs of advisability in statements, questions, short answers, and contractions. It also discusses how these modal verbs are sometimes pronounced in informal speech. Practice exercises are provided for students to use modals of advisability to discuss past problems and what actions should have been taken.

1. Advisability in the
Past
Home Alone
7
Focus on Grammar 4
Part VII, Unit 16
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Home Alone 1Home Alone 1
Joe and Amy have been married
less than a year.
Last month, Amy’s mother had
an operation. . .
. . .so Amy went back to her
hometown to take care of her.
When Amy returned, the house was
a mess!

3. Home Alone 2Home Alone 2
You shouldn’t have gone away.
You could have stayed at home.
You should have taken care of me,
not left me on my own.
You could have paid the phone bill.
You ought to have fed the cat!
You might have taken out the trash.
What’s so hard about that?

4. Home Alone 3Home Alone 3
You’ve made it very clear.
I really need a maid.
Go back to your mother’s, dear.
That’s where you should have stayed.
You should have done the laundry.
You might have washed the car!
At least you could have mowed the lawn.
SPOILED! Is what you are!

5. Modals of AdvisabilityModals of Advisability
Use modals to talk about actions and states that
were advisable in the past, but did not happen.
should have
ought to have
could have
might have
You should have done the laundry.
+ past
participle

6. ContractionsContractions
Use contractions in informal writing and
speaking.
Joe could have mowed the lawn.
He might have washed the car.
You should not have gone away.
Joe could’ve
He might’ve
You shouldn’t

7. Negative StatementsNegative Statements
Use should not have and ought not to
have for negative statements.
You shouldn’t have goneshouldn’t have gone away.
Amy ought not to haveought not to have left.

8. Practice 1Practice 1
Robbery at 1301 Maple Street, June 7, 2005.
Estimated loss: Substantial.
No forced entry. No alarm. Door opened with key found
under welcome mat. Neighbors report empty garbage cans at
curb for several days. Lawn overgrown. Newspapers piled up
on front steps. Curtains open and electronic equipment
visible from street. Car unlocked.
Read the police report about a
robbery. Discuss what this family
should or shouldn’t have done.
Example: They shouldn’t have put a key
under the mat. That’s the obvious place to look.

9. QuestionsQuestions
Should have is the most common form used
in questions.
Should Amy
have stayed
at home?
Should Joe
have done
the laundry?

10. Short AnswersShort Answers
Use the modal and have to make short
answers.
Should Amy
have stayed
at home?
Should Joe
have done
the laundry?
Yes, she
should
have.
No, he
shouldn’t
have.

11. Joe might of taken out the trash.
Pronunciation 1Pronunciation 1
In informal speech, have in modal phrases is
often pronounced like the word of.
Do not write of instead of have.
Joe might have taken out the trash.

12. Joe ought toought to have fed the cat.
Pronunciation 2Pronunciation 2
In informal speech, to in ought to is
pronounced like the word a.
He ought toought to have trimmed the
hedge.

13. Practice 2Practice 2
Here are some problems you
faced yesterday morning. What
should you have done?
Example: You overslept and were late to work.
I ought to have set the alarm.
I might have gone to bed earlier.
I shouldn’t have gone to that party!
1. According to the scale, you gained five pounds.
4. You couldn’t find the car keys.
3. There was no hot water.
5. You forgot to feed the dog.
2. You had no clean socks.

14. ReferencesReferences
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and
its licensors. All rights reserved.