1. Advisability in the Past
ESL 099
Advisability in the Past

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

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

4. 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.)

5. 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.

6. 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)

7. 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.

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

9. 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.