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Lesson No. 88
Should have, could have, would have
அப் படி இருந்திருந்தால் இப் படி ஆயிருந்திருக்கும் (இருந்து இருந்திருக்கும் )

1. நான் இன் னும் ஒரு மார்க் எடுத்துஇருந்தால் மருத்துவக்கல் லூரியில்

சேர்த்து இருப் சபன்.
• If I had taken just one more mark, I would have joined medical college.

2. அதற் கு நீ நன்றாக படித்து இருந்திருக்க சவண்டும் .

• You should have studied well for that.

iii. நான் சகாே்சிங் கிளாசில் சேர்த்து இருந்தால் இன் னும் நன் றாக
படித்திருப் சபன்.
• If I had joined a coaching class I could have studied better.

1. Should have.
• It is used to recommend a different action in the past. To talk about
actions in the past that we wish were different. Saying the opposite of what
happened.
• We can also say that It is used to express regret. Regret is something we
didn’t do.
But of course, we cannot change the past.

Examples:
i. It is used to criticise someone
Example Sentences:
• You should’ve bought a laptop when it was on sale. (It was cheaper then.
criticise)
• You should’ve studied for the test. (You got low scores. criticise)
• You should have called me before coming. (criticise someone for not doing
something)
• They should have practised well before the match.
• You should not have left everything to the last minute.

ii. You can even use it to criticise yourself. If you regret something you did
in the past.
Example sentences:
• I shouldn’t have scolded you.
• I should have been more careful.
• I should have studied well for the test.

iii. You can also use it to apologise to someone. Regret something.

Example sentences:
• I am sorry. I shouldn’t have scolded you. (I understood later that it was not
your mistake).
• I am sorry. I should have lent you some money when you needed it.

iv. You expected something to happen but it didn’t happen.

Example sentences:
• They should have been ready by now.
• They should have reached here by now.
• The plane should have landed at 7.30.
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2. Could have: (could have is softer than should have)

(i) It is used to talk about alternative possibilities in the past.It is used to
talk about imaginary situations in the past.
Examples:
• You could’ve got the job if you had attended the interview.
• He could have won the race if he had not slipped at the start.
• I could have passed the test if I had not fallen sick.
Here you are talking about possibilities or talking about imaginary situations in
the past. Things that really didn’t happen but could have happened. You are talking
about opportunities and chances which you didn’t have in reality but in the imaginary
version of your past you would have had these chances.

(ii) To make a guess:

• I don’t find my keys. I could have left them in my office.
• He is yet to come. He could have missed the bus.
Here you are not sure about something. You use “could have” to make a guess
about what could have happened.

(iii) To criticise someone:

• You could’ve studied for the test (“could have” is softer than “should have”)
Here you use “could have” to criticise someone.

(iv) To avoid a bad situation in the past.

• Oh! don’t be rash. Please drive slowly here. You could’ve caused an
accident.
• Be careful. You could have hurt yourself.
• We could have missed the train due to heavy traffic. Luckily, we just made it.
Here “could have” is used to mean that someone was lucky to avoid a bad
situation in the past.

Review:
1. To talk about the imaginary past.
2. To guess about something in the past.
3. To criticise someone for something they didn’t do.
4. To say that someone was lucky to avoid a bad situation.

3. Would have:
Use would have to talk about the imaginary past.
Example:
• If I had scored just 0.5 % more, I would’ve got a seat in Medical College.
• He wouldn’t have got wet in rain if he had taken an umbrella.
• I wouldn’t have met my childhood friend today if I had not postponed my
journey.
• With my degree in Law I would’ve become a lawyer if I had not joined the job
in the bank.
• It is used to imagine things in the past if the result had been different. (to
talk about imaginary past)
• It is more certain than “could have”

= to talk about the past.