Modal perfect continuous: may have been working

The idea

Combine a modal with have been and the verb’s -ing form. May, might and could express possibility; must signals a strong deduction and cannot a strong negative deduction.

Examples

• The lights were on; Maya might have been working late.
• The ground was wet, so it must have been raining overnight.
• At noon, the children may have been rehearsing for the play.
• Lena looked tired because she could have been caring for her father all night.
• They cannot have been waiting long when the doors opened.
• Before the call, Amir might not have been listening to the radio.

Watch out

After a modal, write have, never has; use been, not being. A possibility is not a certainty.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct option. The kitchen was smoky; Jo ___ dinner. (might have been cooking / might has been cooking)

   Show answer or example answer

   might have been cooking

   might have been cooking presents cooking as one possible explanation for the smoke.

2. Choose the correct option. The road was dry; it ___ there all morning. (cannot have been raining / must have been raining)

   Show answer or example answer

   cannot have been raining

   cannot have been raining expresses a strong negative deduction from the dry road.

3. Choose the correct option. The musicians were exhausted; they ___ for hours. (must have been practising / must have been practicing / must have being practising)

   Show answer or example answer

   must have been practising / must have been practicing

   must have been practising makes a strong inference from their exhaustion.

Use it today

Describe an earlier ongoing activity suggested by a clue.