grammar · neutral

should have + past participle

Band 5-6speakingtask2

Expresses criticism or regret that something ought to have happened in the past but did not.

Examples

“You should have called me when you arrived.”

“They should have checked the figures before publishing the report.”

“I should have studied harder for the exam.”

Band 8 sentence

“In retrospect, the committee should have consulted external experts before approving the proposal.”

Collocations

  • should have + V3
  • really should have

Common mistakes

You should tell him yesterday.→You should have told him yesterday.

I should studied harder.→I should have studied harder.

Say it for a higher band

5should + base verb→6had + past participle→7+should have + past participle

Synonyms

ought to have + V3

Easily confused

could have + past participle

“I could have gone to the party, but I decided not to.”

Related words

have / has + past participlesubject + V(s) (simple present)be about to + base verbbe + V-ingso + adjective/adverb + that + clauseIf + present perfect, will + base verbNot only + clause, but also + clausewill have been + V-ing

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In Tenses

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