Should Have / Shouldn’t Have

Should Have / Shouldn’t Have (talking about regret, criticism, and missed opportunities in English

English is wonderfully good at talking about the past — especially when we want to judge it. When we regret something, criticise a decision, or reflect on what went wrong, we often turn to two small but powerful structures: should have / shouldn’t have. These forms appear constantly in everyday conversation, films and books, Cambridge B2–C1 writing and speaking tasks (B2 First, C1 Advanced).

Let’s explore how they work, what they mean, and how to use them naturally and accurately.

What does should have mean?

Form ➡️ should + have + past participle

Meaning: Should have is used to talk about a past action that did not happen, and something we now think was the right or better choice. It often expresses regret, reflection or mild criticism.

• I should have studied more for the exam.
• She should have told him the truth earlier.
• We should have left earlier to avoid the traffic.
• He should have listened to your advice.

👉 In all these sentences, the action did not happen, and the speaker now believes it was a mistake.

What does shouldn’t have mean?

Form ➡️ should not + have + past participle

(Short form: shouldn’t have)

Meaning: Shouldn’t have is used to talk about a past action that did happen and something we now believe was wrong, unnecessary, or unwise. It often expresses regret, criticism or apology. Should have/shouldn’t have

• I shouldn’t have said that.
• They shouldn’t have spent so much money.
• She shouldn’t have trusted him so easily.
• We shouldn’t have ignored the warning signs.

👉 Here, the action did happen, and the speaker regrets it.

Key difference

If you understand this contrast, half the mistakes disappear.

Common mistakes to avoid

❌ I should have went earlier.

✔️ I should have gone earlier.

❌ She shouldn’t have say that.

✔️ She shouldn’t have said that.

Remember: always use the past participle, not the past simple.

Tone and context

Neutral & personal reflection

• I should have asked more questions.
• I shouldn’t have rushed the decision.

Mild criticism

• He should have known better.
• They shouldn’t have left without telling anyone.

Polite regret (emails & writing)

• I should have replied sooner — apologies for the delay.
• We shouldn’t have caused any inconvenience.

Compare with should (present advice)

You should study more. → advice for now or the future

You should have studied more. → regret about the past

This time shift is small — but crucial.

Download should have/shouldn’t have worksheet with exercise in PDF here

Do the quiz to perfect your knowledge:

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