內容簡介
雖然都可以被用來表達 “原本應該做某事” 這個含義，“should have” 和 “could have” 在語氣上並不相同。其中，“should have” 強調 “應該完成的事情沒有完成”，帶有強烈的指責意味；而 “could have” 表示 “原本能做到的事情卻沒有做”，暗示瞭錯失機會的遺憾。聽節目，跟主持人 Georgie 和步理學習如何使用表達 “should have” 和 “could have”。
文字稿
（關於臺詞的備註: 請註意這不是廣播節目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能沒有體現錄制、編輯過程中對節目做出的改變。）
Buli
大傢好，歡迎收聽 AYYBLOG 英語教學的 “你問我答” 節目。I’m Buli.
Georgie
And I’m Georgie. We have a question here from one of our listeners.
Question
請問 “you should have told me” 和 “you could have told me” 在語氣上有什麼區別？它們好像都表達瞭失望或責備，但語氣的強弱是否不同呢？
Georgie
Ah, a modal verb question – that is very useful. You’re right that in both sentences, the speaker is expressing disappointment about a past event and wishing it could be different.
Buli
沒錯，這是一個關於如何用 “modal verb（情態動詞）” 表達不同語氣的問題。問題中提到的這兩個句子都可以用於責備某人 “你應該告訴我這件事，但你沒有”。但其中不同的兩個情態動詞 “should” 和 “could” 讓兩個句子表達出的語氣略有不同。讓我們先從單詞 “should” 說起。Georgie, what does ‘you should have told me’ mean?
Georgie
Well, ‘should have’ means that an action was the advisable thing to do, but it did not happen. So, ‘you should have told me’ is quite direct and critical, because the person did not do the advisable thing. There is a tone of blame. Let’s hear more examples.
Examples
You’re soaking wet! You should have brought an umbrella.
（你全身都濕透瞭！你出門時應該帶上一把雨傘。）
You missed the train? Well, you should have left the house earlier.
（你沒趕上火車？你應該早點出門。）
Buli
在上面的例句中，情態動詞 “should” 都被用於暗示 “對方沒有做一件原本應該做的事，甚至應該為自己的行為所導致的後果負責”，意思相當於 “原本應當……”。可以說，“should have” 表達的語氣是相對強烈的，帶有強烈的指責意味。我們還可以用 “should have” 來描述自身的行為，從而表達出 “對自己過去行為的懊悔和自責”。比如，我們可以說 “I failed my exams. I should’ve studied harder.（我考試沒及格。我之前真應該用功學習。）”
Georgie
OK. Now let’s talk about ‘could have’. What does ‘You could have told me’ mean?
Buli
相對於 “should”，單詞 “could” 的語氣更加緩和。它暗示的是 “原本可能或能夠做某事，但最終沒有做”，相當於 “原本可以……”。所以，“you could have told me” 指的是 “你原本可以告訴我這件事，但你沒有告訴我”。
Georgie
The tone of this is still disappointed, but it’s a little softer than ‘should have’. There is less blame and it’s more about a missed opportunity. Let’s hear some examples.
Examples
You were locked out of the house? You could have used the spare key under the mat.
（你被鎖在傢門外瞭？其實你可以用地墊下面的備用鑰匙開門進去。）
You got amazing grades. You could have got into any university you wanted.
（你當初的成績太好瞭。其實你可以去你想去的任何一所大學。）
Buli
接下來讓我們用問題中的兩個表達來造句，從而在語境中理解它們語氣上的差異。在第一組例句中，你會聽到 “should have told” 這個表達。試著體會其中指責和批評的態度與第二組例句的不同。
Examples
You should have told me that his party was a surprise! I would have kept it a secret!
（你應該告訴我他的聚會是一個驚喜！這樣的話我就會保密瞭！）
You should have told me you were running late – I was waiting for you for ages!
（你應該告訴我你會遲到——我等瞭你好久！）
Georgie
Whereas, in the next examples with ‘could have told’, there is a sense of a missed opportunity.
Examples
You could have told me you were feeling sad. I would have listened to you.
（你可以告訴我你感覺很難過，我肯定會聽你傾訴。）
Oh, you could have told me you didn’t like pasta. I would have made something else for dinner!
（你要是告訴我你不愛吃意大利面就好瞭，那樣的話我晚餐就做點別的瞭。）
Georgie
It’s worth mentioning that in spoken English we usually say ‘should have’ and ‘could have’ in their contracted forms. So you’re likely to hear ‘should’ve’ and ‘could’ve’.
Buli
最後讓我們來復習一下。“Should have” 和 “could have” 都能用於表達 “失望、後悔或遺憾於沒有在過去完成某個動作”。它們之間的區別在於，情態動詞 “should” 通常暗示 “應當做某事”，所以 “should have” 表示 “原本應該做的事卻沒有完成”，帶有責備和批評的意味；而情態動詞 “could” 則暗示 “能夠或可以做某事”，所以 “could have” 表示 “原本可能或能夠做到某事卻沒有完成”，帶有錯失瞭一次機會的遺憾。
Georgie
Remember, if you have a question that you’d like us to answer, you can email us too at questions.
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