Fill in the blanks with would have, should have and could have.
1You ............... this to me.
Wrong!
Use "shouldn't have done" to criticize a past action that was wrong or hurtful.
2You ............... me you weren't coming.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "could have told" and "should have told" are natural here because the speaker is saying the person had the chance or the duty to say something.
3Why did you leave the door open? You ............... it before you left.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "should have closed" to say the person did the wrong thing by leaving the door open; "could have closed" is also possible as a reproach, meaning the person had the chance but did not do it.
4It was a nice party, and I'm sorry you missed it. You ...............
Wrong!
Use "should have come" to say it was a good idea in the past and the listener missed it.
5I ............... to the party, but I wasn't invited.
Wrong!
Use "would have gone" for an unreal past intention: you wanted to go, but something prevented it.
6If I had been in charge, I ............... this.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't have permitted" to describe what you would not have allowed in an unreal past situation.
7Why did you go skiing there? You ............... yourself.
Wrong!
Use "could have injured" to show that an injury was possible but did not actually happen.
8You ............... so long to take action.
Wrong!
Use "shouldn't have waited" to criticize a delay in the past.
9The risk was obvious. You ............... adequate precautions.
Wrong!
Use "should have taken" to say the right precaution was not taken in the past.
10The accident ............... if you had been careful.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't have happened" for the unreal result of an unreal past condition.
11I ............... to the party, but I decided to stay at home, and I'm glad I did.
Wrong!
Use "could have gone" to show that going was possible, but the speaker chose not to go.
12If I had known that you were in trouble, I ...............
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "would have helped" (or "could have helped") for the unreal result of an unreal past condition: I did not know, so I did not help.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- You shouldn’t have done this to me.
- You could have told / should have told me you weren’t coming.
- Why did you leave the door open? You could have closed / should have closed it before you left.
- It was a nice party, and I’m sorry you missed it. You should have come.
- I would have gone to the party, but I wasn’t invited.
- If I had been in charge, I wouldn’t have permitted this.
- Why did you go skiing there? You could have injured yourself.
- You shouldn’t have waited so long to take action.
- The risk was obvious. You should have taken adequate precautions.
- The accident wouldn’t have happened if you had been careful.
- I could have gone to the party, but I decided to stay at home, and I’m glad I did.
- If I had known that you were in trouble, I could have helped / would have helped.