I would have done better or I should have done better
Which of the following sentences is correct?
1) I would have done better to listen to your advice.
2) I should have done better to listen to your advice.
If both are possible, do they share the same meaning?
If not, when should I use each of them?
Thank you.
Top answer
Sentence 1) sounds OK, but I'd probably say It would have been better (for me) to listen to your advice . Sentence 2) has an interpretation in which it was synonymous with 1), and as such it seems very old-fashioned to my ear. But Sentence 2) as heard in present-day English sounds too close to its opposite; that's why I would probably not use it.
- Sentence 1) sounds OK, but I'd probably say It would have been better (for me) to listen to your advice .
- Sentence 2) has an interpretation in which it was synonymous with 1), and as such it seems very old-fashioned to my ear.
- But Sentence 2) as heard in present-day English sounds too close to its opposite; that's why I would probably not use it.
- I should have done better than to listen to your advice.
- (It was wrong to listen to your advice.
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Sentence 1) sounds OK, but I'd probably say It would have been better (for me) to listen to your advice.
Sentence 2) has an interpretation in which it was synonymous with 1), and as such it seems very old-fashioned to my ear.
But Sentence 2) as heard in present-day English sounds too close to its opposite; that's why I would probably not use it.
I should have done bet
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