Unit 12

1-should have and could have

Form

1- should (not) have + past participle

They should have gone with a guide.

We shouldn't have camped in such a remote area.

2- could (not) have + past participle

We could have had an accident!

You couldn't have run any faster.

3- How do we form PASSIVE SENTENCES where the doer of the action is

not mentioned?
We form the passive with

Should/could/might have BEEN + past participle.

They should have been warned. (warned by sb else-The doer of the action is sb else)

We could have been eaten alive! (eaten by sb else- The doer of the action is sb else)

We might not have been arrested. (Arrested by sb else- The doer of the action is sb else)

Use
1-We use should have to talk about a correct thing to do IN THE PAST, which we DIDN'T
DO. There is a REGRET tone.

We should have taken our torches with us. (But we didn't.)

I should have brought the first aid kit. (But I didn't.)

2-We use could have or might have to talk about something which was POSSIBLE IN THE
PAST, but which DIDN'T HAPPEN.

We could have set up camp by the trees. (But we didn't, we set up camp somewhere else.)

We might have had an accident when that boy ran into the road. (But we didn't.)

3-We use shouldn't have to talk about something which was WRONG to do IN THE PAST,
but we DID IT anyways.

We shouldn't have come this way. (But we did.)

He shouldn't have spoken to the leader like that. (But he did.)

4-We use couldn't have to talk about A LACK OF ABILITY/opinion in THE PAST,
something which was IMPOSSIBLE to do, and which DIDN'T HAPPEN. (In this case, we
can't use mightn't have.)

You couldn't have done anything about it. (It wasn't possible for you to do anything.)
Ability& opinion
She couldn't have avoided riding through the river. (It wasn't possible for her to avoid it.)
Ability& opinion

1 -Complete the sentences with should (not) have and could (not) have+ P.P.
and the past participle of the verbs.

1-You...... (eat) that fruit - I'm really hungry now.

should have eaten

2-You…… ………………(tell) anyone about it! It was supposed to be a surprise.

shouldn't have told

3-It was a very dangerous situation. They…could have gotten/got…………………………….. …

(get) hurt.

could have got

4-He had a very long time to do his research. He…. ……….Should/could have come…. (come)

up with more convincing results.

should have come

5- Do you think we……should have asked……..…...(ask) a guide to come with us? Then we

wouldn't have got lost.

should have asked

6- He didn't travel to the area, so he……………………….couldn’t have taken …...(take) this

photo.

couldn't have taken

1 -Complete the sentences with should (not) have and could (not) have and the
past participle of the verbs.

1-We…. should have eaten...... (eat) that fruit - I'm really hungry now.

2-You……shouldn't have told………………(tell) anyone about it! It was supposed to be a

surprise.

3-It was a very dangerous situation. They…. could have got…(get) hurt.
4-He had a very long time to do his research. He…. should have come…. (come) up with more

convincing results.

5- Do you think we…should have asked…...(ask) a guide to come with us? Then we wouldn't

have got lost.

6- He didn't travel to the area, so he…couldn't have taken…...(take) this photo.