should do and should have done
for example,I should tell him. it has such meanning that I need tell him, but I don't. I think it also can be expressed by such sentence"I should have told him", I wondering is there any difference between those two expression.

Question

should do and should have done
for example,I should tell him.  it has such meanning that I need tell him, but I don't.  I think it also can be expressed by such sentence"I should have told him", I wondering is there any difference between those two expression.

Answer

"I should tell him" comments on the present/future (=telling him IS a good idea, maybe I will)
"I should have told him" comments on the past (=telling him WAS a good idea, but I didn't do it)

"Should have" is often used to express regrets: "I should have set my alarm to go off earlier this morning, then I wouldn't have arrived late to work!"

Answer

Saying 'I should tell him' you mean that may be you will do it in some time.
Saying 'I should have tell him' you mean that you haven't told, although you had an opportunity.

Answers · 3

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