SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

SHOULD HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE

SHOULD HAVE/ SHOULDN’T HAVE + pp (WHAT I DID WASN’T A GOOD IDEA) She should have left me alone. I was red in anger. We shouldn’t have put off the appointment. Now he feels really unwell.

should have (+ past participle)

shouldn‟t have (+past participle)

In English, we often want to express ourregrets about something we did (or didn‟tdo) in the past. We use past formadvice to lament our mistakes.





Example:

Joe was late to work this morning. . .again!

-He should have woken up earlier.
-He shouldn‟t have stayed out solate last night with his friends.
-He shouldn‟t have forgotten toset his alarm clock.
-He ought to have gone to bedearlier.



The movie thatwe rented wasboring.

-We shouldn‟t haverented it.
-We should‟ve chosenanother film.
-We ought to havegone to the moviesinstead.

We can use 'should have' to talk about past events that did not happen.

• I should have let her know what was happening but I forgot.
• He should have sent everybody a reminder by email.
• They should have remembered that their guests don't eat pork.

We can also use 'should have' to speculate about events that may or may not have happened.

• She should have got the letter this morning. I expect she'll give us a call about it later.
• He should have arrived at his office by now. Let's try ringing him.
• They should have all read that first email by this stage. It's time to send the next one.

We can use ' should not have'  to speculate negatively about what may or may not have happened.

• She shouldn't have left work yet. I'll call her office.
• He shouldn't have boarded his plane yet. We can probably still get hold of him.
• They shouldn't have sent the report off for printing yet. There is still time to make changes.

We can also use 'should not have'  to regret past actions.

• I shouldn't have shouted at you. I apologise.
• We shouldn't have left the office so late. We should have anticipated this bad traffic.
• They shouldn't have sacked him. He was the most creative person on their team.