English grammar worksheet focusing on "should have," "could have," and "would have" structures for past hypothetical situations.
Worksheet titled "Should(n't) have, Could have, Would have" with exercises for completing sentences using modal verbs in past tense.
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Step-by-step solution for: SHOULD(N´T) HAVE- COULD(N´T) HAVE- WOULD(N´T) HAVE EXERCISES WITH ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: SHOULD(N´T) HAVE- COULD(N´T) HAVE- WOULD(N´T) HAVE EXERCISES WITH ...
Let's solve each sentence using the correct modal verb form: should (not) have, could have, or would have, along with the verb in brackets. These structures are used to talk about past actions that didn't happen, and what might have been different.
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I should have told her that I would be late.
👉 *Should have* = something you ought to have done (but didn’t). It’s a regret.
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I could have picked you up to work.
👉 *Could have* = possibility in the past that wasn’t realized. The speaker could have helped but didn’t know.
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We should have taken a taxi.
👉 *Should have* = advice or regret about not doing something better.
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He shouldn't have drunk so much.
👉 *Shouldn't have* = he made a wrong choice; it was unwise.
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She could have looked for another one.
👉 *Could have* = she had the opportunity to look, but didn’t.
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He should have bought a GPS before coming to the city centre.
👉 *Should have* = it was a good idea to buy one; he didn’t, and now he’s lost.
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They could have used their mobile phones to call the fire fighters.
👉 *Could have* = they had the ability/means to do it, but maybe didn’t think of it.
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I shouldn't have wasted it in that way.
👉 *Shouldn't have* = regret over spending money foolishly.
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He could have taken the dog for a walk.
👉 *Could have* = it was possible, but he chose not to.
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I would have lent you mine.
👉 *Would have* = hypothetical past situation (conditional). This is a second conditional structure.
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He should have told her that he loved her.
👉 *Should have* = he regrets not expressing his feelings.
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He could have gone to Hawaii because he has relatives living there.
👉 *Could have* = he had the chance (relatives), but didn’t go.
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I shouldn't have watched so much TV.
👉 *Shouldn't have* = bad decision leading to poor sleep.
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If she had paid attention, she would have passed the test.
👉 *Would have* = result in the past if conditions were different.
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He could have attended an English course but he didn't.
👉 *Could have* = he had the opportunity, but didn’t take it.
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She could have seen the House of Parliament and the Big Ben.
👉 *Could have* = she had the chance to visit them, but didn’t.
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1. should have told
2. could have picked
3. should have taken
4. shouldn't have drunk
5. could have looked
6. should have bought
7. could have used
8. shouldn't have wasted
9. could have taken
10. would have lent
11. should have told
12. could have gone
13. shouldn't have watched
14. would have passed
15. could have attended
16. could have seen
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- Should (not) have + past participle: Regret or obligation in the past.
- *I should have called you.* (I didn’t, and now I regret it.)
- Could have + past participle: Possibility in the past that didn’t happen.
- *I could have helped, but I was busy.*
- Would have + past participle: Hypothetical result in the past (if condition were true).
- *If I had studied, I would have passed.*
This worksheet helps practice third conditional and modal verbs for past situations.
Let me know if you'd like a version with explanations for each!
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1. My mother was very angry when I arrived home at 3 a.m. last night.
I should have told her that I would be late.
👉 *Should have* = something you ought to have done (but didn’t). It’s a regret.
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2. I didn't know you had your car broken.
I could have picked you up to work.
👉 *Could have* = possibility in the past that wasn’t realized. The speaker could have helped but didn’t know.
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3. We couldn't arrive to the wedding ceremony on time because the car broke down.
We should have taken a taxi.
👉 *Should have* = advice or regret about not doing something better.
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4. Last Saturday Sam got hurt in a car accident for drinking so much beer.
He shouldn't have drunk so much.
👉 *Shouldn't have* = he made a wrong choice; it was unwise.
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5. Samantha spent a month crying for losing her job. She (look) for another one.
She could have looked for another one.
👉 *Could have* = she had the opportunity to look, but didn’t.
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6. Matthew lives in a very small village in the countryside and he got lost in the city last night.
He should have bought a GPS before coming to the city centre.
👉 *Should have* = it was a good idea to buy one; he didn’t, and now he’s lost.
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7. Tom and Peter spent two hours in a stuck elevator.
They could have used their mobile phones to call the fire fighters.
👉 *Could have* = they had the ability/means to do it, but maybe didn’t think of it.
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8. I lost a lot of money in the lottery.
I shouldn't have wasted it in that way.
👉 *Shouldn't have* = regret over spending money foolishly.
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9. Ryan went to Central Park last night. He (take) the dog for a walk.
He could have taken the dog for a walk.
👉 *Could have* = it was possible, but he chose not to.
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10. If I had known that your computer didn't work, I lent you mine.
I would have lent you mine.
👉 *Would have* = hypothetical past situation (conditional). This is a second conditional structure.
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11. Andrew met Laura a year ago but she left to London.
He should have told her that he loved her.
👉 *Should have* = he regrets not expressing his feelings.
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12. Adam didn't go on holiday last year.
He could have gone to Hawaii because he has relatives living there.
👉 *Could have* = he had the chance (relatives), but didn’t go.
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13. I couldn't sleep well last night.
I shouldn't have watched so much TV.
👉 *Shouldn't have* = bad decision leading to poor sleep.
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14. Laura did not pay too much attention to the teacher's explanation.
If she had paid attention, she would have passed the test.
👉 *Would have* = result in the past if conditions were different.
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15. Luke has lived in London for fifteen years but he cannot speak English very well.
He could have attended an English course but he didn't.
👉 *Could have* = he had the opportunity, but didn’t take it.
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16. Samantha went to London but she didn't go sightseeing.
She could have seen the House of Parliament and the Big Ben.
👉 *Could have* = she had the chance to visit them, but didn’t.
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✔ Final Answers:
1. should have told
2. could have picked
3. should have taken
4. shouldn't have drunk
5. could have looked
6. should have bought
7. could have used
8. shouldn't have wasted
9. could have taken
10. would have lent
11. should have told
12. could have gone
13. shouldn't have watched
14. would have passed
15. could have attended
16. could have seen
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🔍 Explanation Summary:
- Should (not) have + past participle: Regret or obligation in the past.
- *I should have called you.* (I didn’t, and now I regret it.)
- Could have + past participle: Possibility in the past that didn’t happen.
- *I could have helped, but I was busy.*
- Would have + past participle: Hypothetical result in the past (if condition were true).
- *If I had studied, I would have passed.*
This worksheet helps practice third conditional and modal verbs for past situations.
Let me know if you'd like a version with explanations for each!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of would could should worksheet.
