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Modals expressing past "prediction" / expectation / assumption

To express past expectation and assumption, the same auxiliariesA helping verb used with main verbs to express mood, voice and tense. E.g.: I can't stand when I am disturbed. ("can", "am") are used in the case of present expectations and assumptions. However, the infinitives that follow are perfectThe aspect expressing completion. E.g.: He’s finished university. infinitives.

I'm sure she knows everything. The letter I sent her should have arrived yesterday. (expectation)
You won't have heard the news. (I don't suppose you have heard the news.)
You will have met her before. (I assume you have met her before.

These last two sentences are not in future perfect, although they contain the same form.

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