Past Conditional / Regrets
Conversation #1
Man: Why didn't
you come to the party?
Woman: I
didn't know about it.
Man: Oh, no. I should have told you about it.
Woman: Yeah,
I would have come, if I had known about it.
Man: That's
too bad. I think you would have enjoyed it.
Woman: I
think I would have too!
Conversation #2
Man: So how
was your job interview?
Woman: Good,
but I should have spoken up more.
Man: Oh, I
am sure you did fine.
Woman: Yeah,
I just wish I had expressed myself better.
Man: I think you are being too hard on
yourself.
Woman: Maybe,
but I still think I could have done better.
Conversation #3
Man:How was
the movie?
Woman: Actually, I wish I hadn't seen it.
Man: Why? Was
it that bad?
Woman: No! It was a great movie.
Man: Then, why do you wish you hadn't seen it?
Woman: Because it was so scary. I
couldn't sleep last night.
Man: Oh,
really. I love horror movies. Now I wish I had seen it.
Woman: Well,
it is playing for another week, so you have time.
Conversation #4
Man: How was your
vacation?
Woman: Good, but I wish I had stayed at a different hotel.
Man: Why do
you say that?
Woman: Well,
it was next to a lively street and it was so
noisy.
Man: Oh no!
Woman: As a result, I never had a good night sleep.
Man: Maybe you should have read some reviews first.
Woman:Yeah,
I should have.
Man: Well, shoulda, woulda coulda!
Past Conditional
- I should have studied more in school.
- We should have saved some money.
- I would have been upset.
- I could have been a contender.
- If I were you, I would have said something.
- If I could do it over, I would have changed jobs.
- If we had won, I wold have been happy.
- If the weather had been nicer, we would have stayed longer.
- I wish I had tried harder in school.
- I wish I would have tried harder in school.
- She wishes she had applied for the job.
- She wishes she would have appled for the job.
- I would have said something. (I did not have the chance)
- I could have said something. (I had a chance, but did not)
- I should have said something. (I regret not saying something)
- I must have said something. (I speculate I said something)
- I might have said something. (The outcome might differ)
- I may have said something.
