SHOULD’VE | WOULD’VE | COULD’VE

Watch the video and then choose the correct option.

1. If I had known you were feeling lonely, I ……………. phoned you.
a) would’ve
b) should’ve

2. You …………….. phoned to say you would be late.
a) would’ve
b) could’ve

3. He …………….. been so rude to her. Now she’s crying.
a) wouldn’t have
b) shouldn’t have

4. What’s the time? The train …………… left by now.
a) should’ve
b) would’ve

5. A: This is for you!
B: Oh, you ………….. !
a) couldn’t have
b) shouldn’t have

6. If I had known you were in trouble, I …………… helped you.
a) would’ve
b) should’ve

7. A: Why is Tina so upset?
B: She ……………. quarrelled with her husband.
a) could’ve
b) should’ve


Extra tasks below the video.

Extra task 1

  1. What would you say in these situations? Make regrets, using I should’ve / I shouldn’t have + past participle.
  2. You ate too much cake and now you regret it. You say: I ……………… so much.
  3. You didn’t go to a party, but now you regret this because everyone had a great time there. You say: I ……………… to that party.
  4. You bought some expensive shoes but now you regret this, because they’re really uncomfortable. You say: I …………………. these shoes.
  5. You told someone your secret, but now you regret this because everyone else knows it. You say: I ……………… her my secret.
  6. You didn’t practise enough and you failed your driving test, so now you say: I ……………… more.

Extra task 2

You invited your friend to a party, but she hasn’t come yet. Make some guesses why, using She could’ve + past participle, like in the example.

  • Maybe she overslept. – She could’ve overslept.
  • Maybe she forgot. – …………………………… 
  • Maybe she changed her plans. – ……………………………
  • Maybe she met somebody on the way. – ……………………………
  • Maybe she missed the bus. – ………………

Reveal answer

Task 1

  1. a)
  2. b)
  3. b)
  4. a)
  5. b)
  6. a)
  7. a)

Extra task 1

  1. I shouldn’t have eaten so much.
  2. I should’ve gone to that party.
  3. I shouldn’t have bought these shoes.
  4. I shouldn’t have told her my secret.
  5. I should’ve practised more.

Extra task 2

  1. She could’ve forgotten.
  2. She could’ve changed her plans.
  3. She could’ve met somebody on the way.
  4. She could’ve missed the bus.
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