关于should have done(本应该做)的用法…

当我们需要表达某人本应该做某事,但实际上却没有做时,我们在中文里说:”你本该…” 。英文里的对应说法是:you should have (done)。注意这里的should,在英语语法中叫情态动词(modal verb),而should have,则是情态动词的过去式(past modals)。Should have后面要接动词的过去分词。我们看个英语例句:I should have listened to you, Mom.(我本该听您的话,妈妈。) You should have arrived earlier.(你本该早点儿到的。)

如果要表达“你本不该”,则使用should not have,或shouldn’t have。例如:You shouldn’t have told her about us.(你本不该告诉她我俩的事儿。)I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have yelled at you.(真的很抱歉,我不该冲你大叫大嚷的。)你可能也见到过should have never的用法,它同样表示“本来绝不该”,例如:This kid should have NEVER gone there in the first place.(这孩子当初根本就不该去那个地方。)

需要注意的是:You shouldn’t have,本身是一个固定的短语,若单独使用,其意思是:你太客气了。常用来在收到别人的礼物之后表示感谢。比如:These flowers are for me? Aww, You shouldn’t have!(这些花儿是送给我的?啊,你太客气啦!)

在美式口语中,should have,往往被简化为should’ve或shoulda。而在非正式的书写中,should have常被写成should of。注意这些都并非规范的做法,在书面/正式英语中应当避免。

延伸阅读:

Chicago P.D.经典台词: You saved my life. I would’ve been dead at 15 if you hadn’t taken me in…

参考链接:

Understanding and Using Modal Verbs

Past Modals: Should Have, Could Have, Would Have

Past Modal Verbs in the Passive Voice

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/you-shouldn-t-have