Should vs should have

Should vs should have

By Adriënne Riemersma

should: expressing obligation (verplichting)

Structure: should + infinitive

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We use should for the present and the future.

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You should tell them the truth.

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We use should to give advice to someone and to say that something is a good idea.Should is weaker than have to and must.

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You shouldn't smoke; it's bad for you.

I don't think you should do it.

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Should have: expressing unfulfilled obligation in the past

Structure: should + (not) have + past participle of verb

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​You should have told them the truth.

We use should have to say that someone didn't do something, but it would have been the correct thing to do it.

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​You shouldn't have gone there – it was a mistake.

I don't think you should have done it.

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​We often use should have to express regret about the past, or to say that we made a mistake.

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I’m sorry for shouting at you – I shouldn’t have raised my voice.​

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