Unlabelled jars or forgotten tickets can prompt reflection on what would have been better. Should have often expresses regret or criticism about an earlier choice. It can also describe an expected result, as in Rosa's arrival.
The idea
Use should have + past participle for a desirable earlier action and shouldn't have + past participle to criticise an action. Ask Should I have ...?. Ought to have + past participle is a less common alternative for similar retrospective advice.
Examples
- I should have labelled the jars before putting them away.
- We shouldn't have left the tickets on the kitchen table.
- You should have told me the lift was broken.
- Should I have asked for a receipt?
- Rosa should have reached the campsite by now.
- We ought to have checked the final price.
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Watch out
Write should have, not should of or should had. A regret often concerns something not done, but should have does not always prove non-completion: Rosa may already be at the campsite. You should have can sound blaming; context and tone matter.
Try it yourself
Choose the correct form. I should ___ labelled the jars. (have / had)
Show answer or example answer
have
After should, use base-form have, not past had.
Choose the past participle. We shouldn't have ___ the tickets there. (left / leave)
Show answer or example answer
left
The past participle of leave is left: shouldn't have left.
In a conversation about Rosa's progress, what does Rosa should have reached the campsite by now express? Choose an expectation / an instruction to turn back.
Show answer or example answer
an expectation
This is an expectation: the speaker expects Rosa has arrived. The sentence neither confirms arrival nor tells her to turn back.
Practice round
Answer questions and rebuild English sentences to practise. Your score is shown.
Choose the correct form. I should ___ labelled the jars. (have / had)
Choose the past participle. We shouldn't have ___ the tickets there. (left / leave)
In a conversation about Rosa's progress, what does Rosa should have reached the campsite by now express? Choose an expectation / an instruction to turn back.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
Tap the words in the right order.
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Reflect on one useful action you missed and one action you now regret taking. Use should have and shouldn't have. Then write a separate expectation with by now and say whether the result is confirmed.