Should have plus the past participle signals an action was recommended, required, or expected but not carried out, as in you should have called me when the car broke down. Shouldn’t have plus the past participle criticizes an action that was carried out but is judged a mistake, as in he shouldn’t have spent all his savings.
Grammar Rule
Should have + past participle signals an action was recommended, required, or expected but not carried out. Shouldn’t have + past participle criticizes an action that WAS carried out but is judged a mistake. The pattern is fixed: modal + have + past participle — never a bare infinitive and never followed by of. Unlike must have, which expresses logical certainty, should have expresses unmet obligation or expectation.
Should + Perfect Infinitive for Unfulfilled Expectations and Criticism: Rules and Examples
| Form | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Should have + past participle | expected/recommended action not done | You should have called me when the car broke down. |
| Shouldn’t have + past participle | action done but judged a mistake | He shouldn’t have spent all his savings. |
| vs. Must have + past participle | logical certainty about the past | (contrast — not obligation) |
Remember: Never write should of — the pattern is fixed: should/shouldn’t plus have plus past participle.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using should have correctly for unfulfilled expectations and criticism. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
C1-38 Should + Perfect Infinitive
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does should have plus the past participle signal?
That an action was recommended, required, or expected but not carried out, as in you should have called me when the car broke down.
What does shouldn’t have plus the past participle criticize?
An action that was carried out but is judged a mistake, as in he shouldn’t have spent all his savings.
Is should have followed by of?
No, never; the pattern is fixed as should/shouldn’t plus have plus past participle.
How does should have differ from must have?
Must have expresses logical certainty about the past, while should have expresses unmet obligation or expectation.