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Hardell Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Should do vs Should have done
Hi.
Even though I've searched in Google and even in many books, I'm still confused about the usage of 'should(could,would, etc.) do' and 'should(could, would, etc.) have done' in the past tenses. (Regardless second and third conditional.)
I always tend to use 'should have' because just 'should' seems to be in the present to me. But I know that I can use should without have in past tenses.
What's the difference between 'I should do that' and 'I should have done that'.
The first alternative seems to be in the present to me. But probably it means that I should do that in the past, and I did it. The second seems to be definitely in the past to me, but probably the difference is that I should do something in the past, but I didn't.
Am I right? If yes, how can I distinguish whether the 'could without have' form is in the present or in the past?
Thank you in advance.
Even though I've searched in Google and even in many books, I'm still confused about the usage of 'should(could,would, etc.) do' and 'should(could, would, etc.) have done' in the past tenses. (Regardless second and third conditional.)
I always tend to use 'should have' because just 'should' seems to be in the present to me. But I know that I can use should without have in past tenses.
What's the difference between 'I should do that' and 'I should have done that'.
The first alternative seems to be in the present to me. But probably it means that I should do that in the past, and I did it. The second seems to be definitely in the past to me, but probably the difference is that I should do something in the past, but I didn't.
Am I right? If yes, how can I distinguish whether the 'could without have' form is in the present or in the past?
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
Hardell What's the difference between 'I should do that' and 'I should have done that'. Usually: You should do that now / tomorrow . ) You should have done that yesterday .
- Hardell What's the difference between 'I should do that' and 'I should have done that'.
- Usually: You should do that now / tomorrow .
- ) You should have done that yesterday .
- ) Hardell how can I distinguish whether the 'could without have' form is in the present or in the past?
- Use common sense.
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1 Answers
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HardellWhat's the difference between 'I should do that' and 'I should have done that'.Usually:
You should do that now / tomorrow. (The present infinitive refers to t
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