Use of should have

Question

What does 'should have' mean here? Does it talk about the past or convey that something happened or did not happen in the past?I should have studied harder.We should have not changed our cloths.

Vsuresh · Accepted Answer

AnonymousDoes it talk about the past or convey that something happened or did not happen in the past?

It refers to past; something was rightfully expected from the person, but he did not fulfill it.
Here the person needed to have studied harder than he had done earlier, but he did not.

Anonymous · Answer

vsureshIt refers to past; something was rightfully expected from the person, but he did not fulfill it.Here the person needed to have studied harder than he had done earlier, but he did not.

Thanks a lot. So both of my sentences with 'should have' refer to a past event or action, and this is what 'should have' conveys in general, right?

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousWe should not have changed our clothes.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Cool Breeze AnonymousWe should not have changed our clothes.CB

Thanks CB. Is what I said correct: both of my sentences with 'should have' refer to a past event or action, and this is what 'should have' conveys in general, right?

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousIs what I said correct: both of my sentences with 'should have' refer to a past event or action, and this is what 'should have' conveys in general, right?

Right, if you have the past participle after should: I should have done it yesterday. (But I didn't)
Have done is a perfect infinitive. There are (only) two infinitives in English, two in the active voice and two in the passive voice. All the defective/modal auxiliaries take an infinitive, and the perfect infinitive usually refers to the past. The modal auxiliaries are: can, could; shall, should; will, would; may, might; must and ought.

Examples of infinitives used with the modal auxiliaries:

Active present infinitive: I can write it.
Passive present infinitive: It can be written.

Active perfect infinitive: He can't have written it.
Passive perfect infinitive: It can't have been written yesterday.

I may write it.
He may have written it.

It may not be written correctly.
It may not have been written correctly.

It should be done tomorrow.
It should have been done yesterday.

It must be easy for him.
It must have been easy for him.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Cool BreezeRight, if you have the past participle after should: I should have done it yesterday. (But I didn't)Have done is a perfect infinitive. There are (only) two infinitives in English, two in the active voice and two in the passive voice. All the defective/modal auxiliaries take an infinitive, and the perfect infinitive usually refers to the past. The modal auxiliaries are: can, could; shall, should; will, would; may, might; must and ought.

Thanks for your explanation.

Cool Breezeassive perfect infinitive: It can't have been written yesterday.

I thought it was incorrect to use a specific point in time with perfect tenses (yesterday). Have I missed something here?

Cool BreezeI may write it.He may have written it.It may not be written correctly.It may not have been written correctly.It should be done tomorrow.It should have been done yesterday.It must be easy for him.It must have been easy for him.

I am having a hard time figuring out id these are perfect or present sentences/infinitives. Can you point them out just like the previous ones please?

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousI thought it was incorrect to use a specific point in time with perfect tenses (yesterday). Have I missed something here?

In a way, yes. We are discussing the perfect infinitive here, not the present perfect tense.

He wrote it yesterday.
He has written it many times.

Active infinitives:
He must write it today.
He must have written it yesterday.

Passive infinitives:
It must be written today.
It must have been written yesterday.

For the passive infinitive, you need the passive auxiliary verb, be or have been plus the past participle (written, seen, needed etc.). It is possible that you have heard other grammatical terms used to refer to the same things. Grammarians tend to differ in their terminology and everyone usually thinks his terms are the correct ones. Some go to great lengths to prove that their terms are the only acceptable ones.

I find that rather boring. From the point of view of the learner, it is totally unimportant what terms are used. The only important thing is that the learner is at least to some extent familiar with the terms used and understands them and the reason why a certain grammatical form is used.

There are some rather big differences in terminology between many Anglo-Saxon grammarians and some European grammarians, for instance. On the other hand, some of our posters from the Far East may not be familiar with any kind of western grammatical terminology. I bet they are sometimes confused when they read our replies!

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Cool BreezeIn a way, yes. We are discussing the perfect infinitive here, not the present perfect tense.He wrote it yesterday.He has written it many times.

Ohh, I see. So the perfect infinitives that include the models are an exception and can be used with a specific point in time, as you have shown, right?

Just to confirm, the only two infinitives are the present infinitive and perfect infinitive, in the passive voice and active voice, right?

Cool BreezeFor the passive infinitive, you need the passive auxiliary verb, be or have been plus the past participle (written, seen, needed etc.).

The be is for the present form and have been for the perfect form, correct?

Cool BreezeIt is possible that you have heard other grammatical terms used to refer to the same things. Grammarians tend to differ in their terminology and everyone usually thinks his terms are the correct ones. Some go to great lengths to prove that their terms are the only acceptable ones.

I have heard the terms but I don't pay much attention to them, and I can tell what you are talking about once I see them used!

Cool Breezefind that rather boring. From the point of view of the learner, it is totally unimportant what terms are used. The only important thing is that the learner is at least to some extent familiar with the terms used and understands them and the reason why a certain grammatical form is used.There are some rather big differences in terminology between many Anglo-Saxon grammarians and some European grammarians, for instance. On the other hand, some of our posters from the Far East may not be familiar with any kind of western grammatical terminology. I bet they are sometimes confused when they read our replies!

Yes, I agree with you. It really is not important what terms are used. I think grammarians are too good in English that they would rather discuss and argue about their terminology and what terms they think are the correct ones.

My goal is just to improve my English skills, and as you said, to be familiar with the terms used and understand and realize the correct grammatical forms. To be honest, I sometimes find it very hard to understand grammatical language and I need to see examples to be able to know what exactly is meant by a specific grammatical term.

I would greatly appreciate your confirmation on the above questions. Thank you very much for your time and detailed explanation, teacher!

I have learned something new today.

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousI would greatly appreciate your confirmation on the above questions.

You have understood everything correctly. Congratulations!

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Cool BreezeYou have understood everything correctly. Congratulations!

I am glad that I have understood everything correctly. Thank you very much, CB.

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