grammar · neutral
must have been + V-ing
Modal perfect continuous: expresses a strong deduction that an action was ongoing in the past.
Examples
“He must have been working late if the lights were still on.”
“They must have been travelling when the announcement was made.”
“Judging by the noise, the neighbours must have been renovating all morning.”
Band 8 sentence
“Based on the soil disturbance and the fresh footprints, the archaeologists must have been excavating the trench for several hours before I arrived.”
Collocations
- must have been + V-ing + when/if/while
- must have been working / must have been doing / must have been renovating
Common mistakes
She must have worked late because the lights were on.→She must have been working late because the lights were on.
He must been working yesterday.→He must have been working yesterday.
Say it for a higher band
5must + V (present)→6must have + past participle→7+must have been + V-ing
Easily confused
must have + past participle
“She must have left early.”
might have been + V-ing
“They might have been waiting when I called.”
Related words
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In Tenses
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