should have/could have

[anxoperez]

Can someone tell you how to say I SHOULD HAVE GONE, BUT... or I COULD HAVE DONE IT, BUT...?

thanks in advance

[skylee]

Consider -

I SHOULD HAVE GONE, BUT... ~ 我(當時)本應該去的，可是……

I COULD HAVE DONE IT, BUT... ~ 我(當時)本可以(完成它etc) 的，可是……

PS - also take a look at this -> http://www.kekenet.com/kouyu/14671.shtml

[anxoperez]

Can I say...

wo benlai yinggai qu.

?

(I should have gone)

Second question:

Do I necessarily have to put de at the end?

wo benlai yinggai qu de

which way is more common, the one I provided or yours?

[skylee]

Do I necessarily have to put de at the end?

Yes.

which way is more common, the one I provided or yours?

Mine.

[Hanlink]

Adding a 的 or not is an interesting issue. As Skylee states, it is certainly more natural to put a 的 at the end.

From a beginnner's point of view, it is probably better to think of it as an implied 是...的 construction with the 是 redundant, thus 我本[來][是]應該去的,可是…. Lots of examples can be found of 本來應該 being used with no 的 in sight.

The 是 should also be considered optional with a 的, since this is also certainly used. Again, though the easiest and most natural is the simplest version 我本應該去的. There is nothing gramatically incorrect with the version 我本來應該去玩,不過...

[Guest realmayo]

Found this very useful, thanks Skylee.