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Pructus Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

"should have done" meaning "had to do"

I left the kitchen window open, because there was still a hamsin this morning, I didn't think he would go out, why should he have gone out, what did he lack at home.

*******

Hello, Gurus and Members!!
The underlined part seems to mean, "Why he had to go out".
In this case, "should have done" means "had to do", which is very unfamiliar and doesn't appear in most grammar books.
What is the native's sense of English regarding this issue?
  

Top answer

pructus The underlined part seems to mean, "Why he had to go out". " is not right. e.

— GPY

  • pructus The underlined part seems to mean, "Why he had to go out".
  • " is not right.
  • e.
  • why was he obliged to go out.
  • " does not mean that.
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5 Answers
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pructusThe underlined part seems to mean, "Why he had to go out".
"Why he had to go out?" is not right. I think you may mean "Why did he have to go out?"; i.e. why was he obliged to go out. In fact, "Why should he have gone out?" does not mean that. Compared to plain "Why did he go out?" it has an extra emphasis of questioning his reason or purpose, or the nec
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pructusWhy should he have gone out?
~ What reason would he have had to go out? (Implication: There was no reason for him to go out.)

This is another use of should, seen in why-questions.

It's pretty much equivalent to advisory should.

~ Why would it have been advisable for him to go out?

CJ
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Thanks a lot, GPY!!

Well understood~~...
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I see... I see....

The should/could/might, etc. is so not easy for non-natives...

Thanks so much, CJ~!!
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pructusThe should/could/might, etc. is so not easy for non-natives...
There are too many different ways of using those words. That's most of the problem.
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