1. Modals of lost opportunity
Should have Would have
Modals of lost opportunity

2. They describe situations when we are imagining that the past was different
We use them to talk about imagined situations in the past

3. General rules
Should have – recommending a different action in the past
Would have – imagine definite results if the past was different

4. Function: to give advice about past actions and to express regret
should
have...
and
shouldn't
have ...
using
Function: to give advice about past actions and to express regret

5. Should is a modal auxiliary that we use very frequently in English:
To give advice, a recommendation, or your opinion. Here are some examples:
You should save your money to buy a new house.
My sister has been feeling sick recently. She should see a doctor.
Mark shouldn’t go out to play with his friends. He has too much homework.

6. Past Form Meaning . . .
When we use this past form of “should,” we are usually expressing regret about something we did or did not do in the past.
Although we cannot change our past actions, we often lament them.
Example:
That cake was delicious, but I shouldn’t have eaten two pieces!
(Meaning = I wish that I hadn’t eaten two pieces; I regret it!)

7. We use “you should have” to express advice about a past event.
cleaned it immediately.
We use “you should have” to express advice about a past event.

8. Should have + past participle
Should+ not +have + past participle
When the action did not happen and someone is sorry (regrets) that the action did not happen.
I failed the test. I should have studied last night.
My stomach hurts! I shouldn’t have eaten those four doughnuts.

9. Would + have + past participle
Would + not + have + past participle
When the action did not happen (conditional)
The young couple would have purchased the house if it had had two bathrooms
The negative form would not have + past participle is used when the action actually happened, but it would not have happened if something else occurred first.
The pie would not have tasted so sweet if I had added the correct amount of sugar.

10. Would + have called him right away. ( but you did not call him)
I would have
called him right away. ( but you did not call him)
We use “I would have” to give an opinion about an action in the past or to suggest an alternative to the action taken.

11. To use should in the past, we do the following:or
Shouldn’t
Past participle of main verb + +
HAVE
Examples:
The party was great! You should have come.
I feel tired. I shouldn’t have gone to bed so late.
I didn’t pass the test. I should have studied more.

12. You should have taken some aspirin.
Examples . . .
Your friend has a terrible headache. You ask him if he took any aspirin, and he tells you “no.” You respond:
You should have taken some aspirin.

13. The little boy told his mother: “I feel sick.” The mother responded:
More Examples . . .
The little boy told his mother:
“I feel sick.”
The mother responded:
“Well, you shouldn’t have eaten so much candy!”

14. You should have woken up earlier!
More Examples . . .
Your friend had a job interview yesterday, but she was late because she woke up late. When she tells you what happened, you respond:
You should have woken up earlier!

15. Exercises: Practice saying these sentences:
You _______ ____studied for the test.
She’s really sick. She _____________come to class today. She ______________stayed home.
3. We _____________saved more money last year.
4. He __________________been so rude.
should have
shouldn't have
should have
should have
shouldn't have

16. Your Turn to practice . . .
Think of ways to respond to each situation below using should have… or shouldn’t have…
1. I dropped my cell phone and I broke it.
2. Susan gained a lot of weight last year.
3. Jonathan was fired from his job.
4. We got lost when we were driving to my coworker’s house.
5. I didn’t pass my driver’s license test.

17. This week, we will continue to learn and practice this grammar.
If you have difficulties understanding this grammar, you shouldn’t keep quiet.
You should ask a classmate or your teacher for help or for more explanation.
You should also go to our class website for more practice with “should have… and shouldn’t have…”