Using haber + participle for you should/shouldn't have done something Flashcards
In European Spanish we can express “you should/shouldn’t [have done something]”, as a reproach, by using this structure:
Haber/No haber + past participle of main verb
I hardly have any money in the bank. -You should have saved a bit more!
Qué poco dinero tengo en el banco. -¡Haber ahorrado un poco más!
I haven’t slept in days. -You should have told me, mate! I didn’t know.
Llevo días sin domir. -¡Habérmelo dicho, hombre! No sabía nada.
I don’t like my new job at all. -Well, you should have thought about it more carefully before saying yes.
No me gusta nada mi trabajo nuevo. -Pues, haberlo pensado mejor antes de decir que sí.
The plumber charged me a lot for fixing the tap [US: faucet]. -You should have called Juan! He is a handyman and super cheap.
El fontanero me ha cobrado mucho por arreglarme el grifo. -¡Haber llamado a Juan! Es un manitas y super barato.
I find this topic very difficult to understand. -You shouldn’t have skipped so many classes!
Me cuesta mucho entender este tema. -¡No haber faltado tanto a clase!
Cristina, you are unbearable tonight. -Then, you shouldn’t have invited me to dinner!
-Cristina, esta noche estás insoportable. -¡No haberme invitado a cenar entonces!
(Lit: You should have told me it.)
¡Habérmelo dicho, hombre!
“You should have told me.”
Deberías/deberíais habérmelo dicho.
Deberías/deberíais habérmelo dicho. =
¡Habérmelo dicho!
Cristina, you are unbearable tonight. -Then, you shouldn’t have invited me to dinner!
Cristina, esta noche estás insoportable. -¡No me hubieras invitado a cenar entonces!
I haven’t slept in days. -You should have told me, mate! I didn’t know.
Llevo días sin dormir. -¡Me lo hubieras dicho, hombre! No sabía nada.
I hardly have any money in the bank. -You should have saved a bit more!
Qué poco dinero tengo en el banco. -¡Haber ahorrado un poco más!
