Must have V3 vs. Should have V3 (Perfect Modals) – English Grammar Exercises for B2
Read the following conversation and thoughts of a married couple who have just returned from a luxury overseas vacation. They are currently reviewing their credit card statement and are in absolute shock at the massive debt they have accumulated. Choose the most appropriate option (A, B, C, or D) to complete each sentence.
1 Look at this massive statement! I am so stressed. We ______ a strict daily budget before we left the country.
(A) must have set
(B) should set
(C) should have set
(D) should had set
2 The final hotel bill is twice as much as I expected. They ______ us for all those expensive minibar drinks we had on the first night.
(A) must have charged
(B) should have charged
(C) must charged
(D) must to have charged
3 We spent over $500 on dinner at that fancy rooftop restaurant just for the photos. We ______ somewhere cheaper and more authentic.
(A) should eaten
(B) should have eaten
(C) must have eaten
(D) should of eaten
4 I don’t even remember spending $200 at that random souvenir shop. I ______ my mind entirely when I handed them my card!
(A) should have lost
(B) must lost
(C) must of lost
(D) must have lost
5 Taking private taxis everywhere in Paris was a terrible financial decision. We ______ the public subway instead to save money.
(A) must have taken
(B) should took
(C) should have taken
(D) should take
6 I can’t believe I bought that designer watch on a whim just because it looked shiny. I ______ it.
(A) shouldn’t bought
(B) shouldn’t have bought
(C) mustn’t have bought
(D) shouldn’t buy
7 Remember when my credit card was suddenly declined at the art museum? We ______ our daily spending limit by then without even realizing it.
(A) must have reached
(B) had to reach
(C) must reached
(D) should have reached
8 The exchange rate we got at the airport kiosk was an absolute rip-off. We ______ our cash at our local bank before the trip.
(A) must have exchanged
(B) should exchanged
(C) should have exchanged
(D) should exchange
9 There is an unexplained $150 penalty fee on this car rental receipt. We ______ the fine print in the contract when we signed it.
(A) should have missed
(B) must missed
(C) must of missed
(D) must have missed
10 We didn’t really need to upgrade to first-class train tickets for a two-hour journey. We ______ with the standard economy seats.
(A) should have stuck
(B) must have stuck
(C) should stick
(D) should had stuck
11 Wait, $300 for a single gondola ride?! That ______ the normal price; the boat driver definitely scammed us.
(A) shouldn’t have been
(B) mustn’t be
(C) can’t have been
(D) can’t to have been
12 You warned me multiple times not to carry so much cash into crowded tourist spots, but I ignored you. I ______ to your advice.
(A) ought have listened
(B) ought to have listened
(C) must have listened
(D) ought to listen
13 We had to pay a $100 overweight baggage fee on the flight back. We ______ way too many useless souvenirs!
(A) must had bought
(B) should have bought
(C) must buy
(D) must have bought
14 I downloaded a travel budget-tracking app but never even opened it. I ______ all our daily expenses to avoid this disaster.
(A) should have tracked
(B) should tracked
(C) must have tracked
(D) should of tracked
15 The travel insurance would have covered the delayed flight, but we panicked and paid for a new hotel room out of pocket. We ______ that!
(A) mustn’t have done
(B) shouldn’t did
(C) shouldn’t have done
(D) shouldn’t do
16 I was so distracted by the beautiful scenery that I handed the waiter a $100 bill instead of a $10 bill for a coffee. I ______ out of my mind!
(A) must be
(B) must have been
(C) should have been
(D) must had been
17 We actually applied for a new credit card just to afford this luxury trip. We ______ on high-interest debt just to go on vacation.
(A) ought not to have taken
(B) shouldn’t take
(C) ought not have taken
(D) must not have taken
18 Half of our emergency savings fund is gone, and we have absolutely nothing to show for it. We ______ it on small, everyday luxuries.
(A) should have squandered
(B) must squandered
(C) must have squandered
(D) must to have squandered
19 We waited until the very last minute to book the flights and ended up paying double. We ______ them months in advance.
(A) should had booked
(B) should have booked
(C) must have booked
(D) should book
20 The bank froze my account on the final day because of “suspicious international activity.” I ______ them about our travel dates beforehand so this wouldn’t happen.
(A) should have notified
(B) must have notified
(C) should of notified
(D) should notify
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 (C) should have set
- Why it’s correct: Expresses deep regret about a past action that didn’t happen. They failed to set a budget, and now they regret it.
- Error Analysis: (A) must have set is a Meaning Trap (it means you deduce that you did set a budget, which contradicts the context). (B) is a Common Mistake (using the base verb for a past regret). (D) is a Structural Error (should had does not exist).
2 (A) must have charged
- Why it’s correct: A strong logical deduction based on evidence. The bill is huge, so they deduce the hotel added the minibar costs.
- Error Analysis: (B) should have charged is a Meaning Trap (implies the couple wanted the hotel to charge them). (C) is a Structural Error (missing ‘have’). (D) is a Common Mistake (adding “to” after must).
3 (B) should have eaten
- Why it’s correct: Regret over an expensive choice in the past.
- Error Analysis: (C) must have eaten is a Meaning Trap. (A) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common phonetic spelling mistake (“should of” instead of “should have”).
4 (D) must have lost
- Why it’s correct: Deduction about their own past state of mind because they have no memory of the purchase.
- Error Analysis: (A) should have lost is a Meaning Trap (regretting not losing your mind makes no sense). (B) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Common phonetic mistake (“must of”).
5 (C) should have taken
- Why it’s correct: Expressing regret about a past financial mistake. Taking the subway was the better, unchosen alternative.
- Error Analysis: (A) must have taken is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error (using V2 ‘took’ instead of V3 ‘taken’). (D) is a Common Mistake (present/future advice).
6 (B) shouldn’t have bought
- Why it’s correct: Negative regret. It was a bad idea to buy the watch.
- Error Analysis: (C) mustn’t have bought is a Meaning Trap (this means “I strongly deduce I didn’t buy it”, but the speaker clearly bought it). (A) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common Mistake (present tense).
7 (A) must have reached
- Why it’s correct: Deduction based on the card being declined.
- Error Analysis: (D) should have reached is a Meaning Trap. (B) had to reach is a Meaning Trap (expresses obligation, not deduction). (C) is a Structural Error.
8 (C) should have exchanged
- Why it’s correct: Regret over a poor financial decision regarding currency exchange.
- Error Analysis: (A) must have exchanged is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common Mistake (present tense).
9 (D) must have missed
- Why it’s correct: Deduction. There is a fee, so the logical conclusion is that they failed to read the fine print.
- Error Analysis: (A) should have missed is a Meaning Trap (implies it was a good idea to miss the fine print). (B) is a Structural Error. (C) is a Common Mistake (“must of”).
10 (A) should have stuck
- Why it’s correct: Regret. Sticking to economy seats would have been the smarter choice.
- Error Analysis: (B) must have stuck is a Meaning Trap. (C) is a Common Mistake. (D) is a Structural Error (“should had”).
11 (C) can’t have been
- Why it’s correct: Strong negative deduction. It is logically impossible that $300 is the normal price.
- Error Analysis: (A) shouldn’t have been is a Meaning Trap (expresses regret/criticism, not deduction). (B) is a Common Mistake (present deduction). (D) is a Structural Error (adding “to”).
12 (B) ought to have listened
- Why it’s correct: Synonym for “should have listened”, expressing regret for ignoring advice.
- Error Analysis: (C) must have listened is a Meaning Trap (deduces that they did listen, which is false). (A) is a Structural Error (missing “to”). (D) is a Common Mistake (present tense).
13 (D) must have bought
- Why it’s correct: Deduction based on the physical evidence of heavy luggage.
- Error Analysis: (B) should have bought is a Meaning Trap. (C) is a Common Mistake. (A) is a Structural Error (“must had”).
14 (A) should have tracked
- Why it’s correct: Regret over a failed plan.
- Error Analysis: (C) must have tracked is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common Mistake (“should of”).
15 (C) shouldn’t have done
- Why it’s correct: Regret over a panicked action that cost them unnecessary money.
- Error Analysis: (A) mustn’t have done is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error (using V2 ‘did’). (D) is a Common Mistake.
16 (B) must have been
- Why it’s correct: Deduction about one’s own mental state during a foolish past action.
- Error Analysis: (C) should have been is a Meaning Trap. (A) is a Common Mistake (present deduction). (D) is a Structural Error.
17 (A) ought not to have taken
- Why it’s correct: Synonym for “shouldn’t have taken”, expressing deep regret.
- Error Analysis: (D) must not have taken is a Meaning Trap (deduction). (C) is a Structural Error (missing “to” before the infinitive). (B) is a Common Mistake.
18 (C) must have squandered
- Why it’s correct: Deduction. The money is gone but there are no big purchases, so they deduce they wasted (squandered) it on small things.
- Error Analysis: (A) should have squandered is a Meaning Trap. (B) is a Structural Error. (D) is a Common Mistake.
19 (B) should have booked
- Why it’s correct: Regret about procrastination.
- Error Analysis: (C) must have booked is a Meaning Trap. (A) is a Structural Error (“should had”). (D) is a Common Mistake.
20 (A) should have notified
- Why it’s correct: Regret over failing to do an important administrative task.
- Error Analysis: (B) must have notified is a Meaning Trap. (D) is a Common Mistake (present/future advice). (C) is a Structural Error (“should of”).
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
- Should have + Past Participle: This is the grammar of hindsight and regret. In financial situations, you use this to compare a smart financial plan (that you failed to follow) with the current reality.
- Example: “We should have set a budget.” (Meaning: We didn’t set a budget, and that was a terrible mistake.)
- Shouldn’t have + Past Participle: Used to heavily criticize a past action, such as an impulsive purchase or a poor financial decision.
- Example: “I shouldn’t have bought that watch.” (Meaning: I bought it, and now I deeply regret wasting the money.)
- Must have + Past Participle: This is the grammar of logical deduction. You use this when you see the present physical evidence (like a huge bill, an unexplained fee, or a zero balance) and logically figure out where the money went.
- Example: “They must have charged us for the minibar.” (Meaning: I didn’t see them add it to the bill, but looking at the total, it is the only logical explanation.)
- Can’t have + Past Participle / Couldn’t have + Past Participle: The exact opposite of “must have”. Used when you are almost certain that a financial charge or past situation is logically impossible.
- Example: “That can’t have been the normal price.” (Meaning: I am 99% certain the price was artificially inflated; it’s impossible that it actually costs that much.)