Advisability in the Past ESL 099 Advisability in the Past

Advisability in the Past Should (not) have Ought (to) to have + past participle Could have Might have

Advisability in the Past Contractions Should have = should’ve Could have = could’ve Might have = might’ve Should not have = shouldn’t have

Use of the Modals Should have, ought to have, could have, and might have for: States that were advisable in the past but did not happen They communicate sense or blame I should’ve applied to college. (I didn’t apply, and now I’m sorry.) I ought to have taken that job. (I didn’t take that job. That was a big mistake.) She could’ve gone to a much better school. (She didn’t go to a better school. Now she regrets her choice.)

Use of the Modals More Examples: You might’ve told me. (You didn’t tell me. That was wrong.) Write these as modals: I had a chance to go on a cruise. I didn’t go. I should’ve gone on a cruise. Bob asked me to marry him, but I married Joe. I should’ve married Bob.

Negative Statements The only negative statements about advisability in the past: Should not have Ought not to have He shouldn’t have missed the math exam. (but he did) He ought not to have cheated on the test. (but he did)

Questions Should have is the most common form in questions Should he have called the teacher? Yes, he should have./No, he shouldn’t have.

Pronunciation HAVE is often pronounced like the word OF. Could have BE CAREFUL! Never write OF instead of HAVE!

Pronunciation TO is often pronounced like the word A. Ought to BE CAREFUL! Do not write A instead of TO with OUGHT. I ought to have gone.