English grammar
Must have + past participle (a confident guess about the past)
Guess about times and events in the past with must have been.
From the scene It must've been three
In short
For a confident guess about the past, use must have (must've) + past participle: it must've been nine.
Your turn
Which one goes with a guess about an ongoing past action?
Options: he must’ve been singing · it must’ve been nine · he must’ve had the mic
Show answer
a guess about an ongoing past action → he must’ve been singing
How it works
When you're almost sure about something in the past, use must have (must've) + past participle: it must've been nine, he must've had the mic.
Good to know
Must have is simply must be (for now) moved into the past — never must + a past form (not 'it must been').
a guess about a time in the past it must’ve been nine
Javi
It must’ve been nine when we arrived.
Serían las nueve cuando llegamos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) when we arrived.
Options: It must’ve been nine · He must’ve been singing · He must’ve had the mic
Show answer
Javi
It must’ve been nine when we arrived.
Serían las nueve cuando llegamos.
a guess about an ongoing past action he must’ve been singing
Nuria
He must’ve been singing terribly, for sure.
Estaría cantando fatal, seguro.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) terribly, for sure.
Options: It must’ve been nine · He must’ve had the mic · He must’ve been singing
Show answer
Nuria
He must’ve been singing terribly, for sure.
Estaría cantando fatal, seguro.
a guess about a past state (had = possessed) he must’ve had the mic
Javi
He must’ve had the mic all night.
Tendría el micrófono toda la noche.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) all night.
Options: He must’ve been singing · He must’ve had the mic · It must’ve been nine
Show answer
Javi
He must’ve had the mic all night.
Tendría el micrófono toda la noche.
a guess about how you felt I must’ve been exhausted
Javi
I must’ve been exhausted... I don’t remember a thing.
Estaría agotado... no recuerdo nada.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)... I don’t remember a thing.
Options: He must’ve been singing · I must’ve been exhausted · It must’ve been nine
Show answer
Javi
I must’ve been exhausted... I don’t remember a thing.
Estaría agotado... no recuerdo nada.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| a guess about a time in the past | it must’ve been nine |
|---|---|
| a guess about an ongoing past action | he must’ve been singing |
| a guess about a past state (had = possessed) | he must’ve had the mic |
| a guess about how you felt | I must’ve been exhausted |
More lines from the story
- NuriaWell in this video, the one with the mic is you.Pues en este vídeo, el del micrófono eres tú.
- JaviIt must’ve been three in the morning.Serían las tres de la madrugada.