Thread: Shoulda Woulda Coulda

Could anyone explain the exact meaning and give one or two situations to illustrate the usage of this phrase, please?

Артём, ты читал Туве Янсон? Саги о Муми-троллях? Тофсла и Вифсла?

It's a slang phrase to indicate that something happened (or will happen) that could have/should have been prevented.

(It's raining outside and the laundry is getting wet)
-Wow. The rain's really pouring. I should have taken down the laundry...
-Yeah. Shoulda Woulda Coulda...now they'll be soaked and we'll have no clothes to wear.


(A student finishes the exam)
-I can't believe I didn't know how to conjugate those verbs! I guess I should've study that section again...
-Shoulda Woulda Coulda! You should have known better -- and now your grades will suck!

So you can see, it's usually a second person scolding someone who didn't do something that they could've/would've/should've.

Originally Posted by Barmaley

It's a slang phrase to indicate that something happened (or will happen) that could have/should have been prevented.

(It's raining outside and the laundry is getting wet)
-Wow. The rain's really pouring. I should have taken down the laundry...
-Yeah. Shoulda Woulda Coulda...now they'll be soaked and we'll have no clothes to wear.


(A student finishes the exam)
-I can't believe I didn't know how to conjugate those verbs! I guess I should've study that section again...
-Shoulda Woulda Coulda! You should have known better -- and now your grades will suck!

So you can see, it's usually a second person scolding someone who didn't do something that they could've/would've/should've.

Thank you, Barmaley. Now I'm sure of it.

Originally Posted by Leof

Артём, ты читал Туве Янсон? Саги о Муми-троллях? Тофсла и Вифсла?

Начал в детстве. Навеяло тоску. Бросил.
Это как-то связано?

Простла Тофсла и Вифсла так и говорифсла, вставляфсла в каждсла словасла лишние слогасла.

А! Припоминаю!

Should have- This is showing that you regret something you didn't do in the past that you had the opportunity to do. "I should have studied for the chemistry exam.". This is the same as "I regret not studying for the chemistry exam."

Would have- This is showing that there was something in the past you had the opportunity to do and would have happened, but something stopped you from doing it. "I would have gotten an A in Calculus but I failed the final"; this is the same as "If I hadn't failed the final for Calculus my grade would be an A.".

Could have- This phrase is showing an option the person had in the past but did not take. "I could have gotten passed English class with an A if I did the homework", that's the same as "I had the opportunity to pass English class with an A, but I didn't".

Thank you.

You'd better write it down like this: "I should of known this before" or "I could of done this if I had a chance".
Then you'll be a real net-freak like those who write "мне это нравиться" or "извените".

Originally Posted by Propp

You'd better write it down like this: "I should of known this before" or "I could of done this if I had a chance".
Then you'll be a real net-freak like those who write "мне это нравиться" or "извените".

Er... did you miss the word "not" out of that first sentence?