Modaal werkwoord + have + voltooid deelwoord gaat over het verleden:
| betekenis | voorbeeld | |
|---|---|---|
| should have | had moeten (maar niet gedaan) | You should have told me. |
| shouldn't have | had niet moeten | I shouldn't have eaten so much. |
| must have | moet wel (zeker) | She must have forgotten. |
| can't have | kan niet (onmogelijk) | He can't have seen it. |
| could have | had gekund | We could have won. |
| might / may have | misschien | They might have left already. |
Gesproken klinkt should have als "should've" — schrijf nooit should of.