Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one. Some sentences have two correct answers. Choose both.
1You ............... told me you were running late. I waited outside in the rain for twenty minutes.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Should have" and "could have" both make a natural criticism about not telling someone earlier.
2He ............... left his laptop on the train. It was in his bag when he got on, and now it is gone.
Wrong!
"Must have" shows a strong logical conclusion about the past.
3I ............... said that in front of everyone. It came out harsher than I meant.
Wrong!
"Shouldn't have" expresses regret about doing something in the past.
4We ............... booked a table. Now the restaurant is full, and we are stuck outside.
Wrong!
"Should have" criticises a past decision that would have avoided the problem.
5She ............... been offended by your joke. She laughed, but she has not replied to your messages since.
Wrong!
"Might have" suggests a possible past reaction without certainty.
6You ............... interrupted him mid-sentence. It made you look impatient.
Wrong!
"Shouldn't have" criticises an action that was a bad idea in the past.
7I ............... taken the earlier train, but I assumed the later one would be on time.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Could have" shows that a past possibility existed but was not used; "should have" expresses regret about not using it.
8They ............... bought the extended warranty. The repair was covered anyway.
Wrong!
"Needn't have" says that a past action was unnecessary.
9You ............... told her the truth, but you chose to lie to keep things simple.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Should have" and "could have" both work as criticism of the choice not to tell the truth.
10He ............... been driving too fast. The skid marks were nearly fifty metres long.
Wrong!
"Must have" gives a strong conclusion based on clear evidence.
11I ............... emailed you earlier because I did not have your address until this morning.
Wrong!
"Couldn't have" shows that doing the action earlier was impossible.
12You ............... checked the attachment before sending it. You sent the draft version by mistake.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Should have" and "could have" both naturally criticise not checking the attachment.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- You should have / could have told me you were running late. I waited outside in the rain for twenty minutes.
- He must have left his laptop on the train. It was in his bag when he got on, and now it is gone.
- I shouldn’t have said that in front of everyone. It came out harsher than I meant.
- We should have booked a table. Now the restaurant is full, and we are stuck outside.
- She might have been offended by your joke. She laughed, but she has not replied to your messages since.
- You shouldn’t have interrupted him mid-sentence. It made you look impatient.
- I should have / could have taken the earlier train, but I assumed the later one would be on time.
- They needn’t have bought the extended warranty. The repair was covered anyway.
- You should have / could have told her the truth, but you chose to lie to keep things simple.
- He must have been driving too fast. The skid marks were nearly fifty metres long.
- I couldn’t have emailed you earlier because I did not have your address until this morning.
- You should have / could have checked the attachment before sending it. You sent the draft version by mistake.