should have finished

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the sentence "should have finished" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that was supposed to have been completed in the past but wasn't. For example: I should have finished my essay yesterday, but I was too busy.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But still, he should have finished it.

Independent

The headlines alone should have finished him.

The Guardian - Sport

'I should have finished school first,' " said Ms. Ventura.

The New York Times

We should have finished the game off with all the chances we created.

The Guardian - Sport

By his estimation, he should have finished with 13 3-pointers.

The New York Times - Sports

She should have finished a year earlier, but she had made an odd choice.

The New Yorker

He should have finished fourth, but on the last lap Conway spun out….

The New York Times

It is long past the time when we should have finished the job.

The New York Times

By the end of July work should have finished on building NOVA, an experiment designed to pin those details down.

The Economist

His comic performances have long included jokes such as "The Germans should have finished the job in 1945".

The New Yorker

In one, Dieudonné says to his Jewish partner, "The Germans should have finished the job in 1945".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Employ "should have finished" to indicate that something was expected to be completed by a certain time but wasn't. For example, "The project should have finished last week."

Common error

Avoid using "should have finished" to describe current or future actions. It's specifically for past actions that were not completed. Instead, use "should finish" or "should be finished" for future actions.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have finished" functions as a modal perfect construction. It expresses a past action that was expected or advised but did not occur. This construction is frequently used to express regret, criticism, or unfulfilled expectations, as demonstrated by Ludwig.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

57%

Science

22%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have finished" is a modal perfect construction used to express that something was expected or desired to be completed in the past but was not. As indicated by Ludwig, it conveys regret, criticism, or missed opportunities. Grammatically correct and widely used, it is suitable for both formal and informal contexts. While common in News & Media, as well as Science sources, its versatility makes it a valuable addition to your writing toolkit. Remembering the correct tense and avoiding common errors, as discussed, will ensure clear and effective communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have completed

Replaces "should" with "ought to", suggesting a moral obligation or expectation.

should have finalized

More direct substitution using another verb synonym.

was supposed to have completed

Emphasizes the expectation or plan that something would be finished.

should have concluded

Suggests a more formal tone and implies bringing something to an end.

needed to have finalized

Highlights the necessity of finishing something.

should have wrapped up

More informal, suggesting finishing a task efficiently.

had to have wrapped up

Indicates a requirement or obligation to complete something.

should have finalized by now

Adding "by now" to emphasize the time aspect of expectation.

was expected to have concluded

Focuses on the anticipation that something would be brought to an end.

must have accomplished

Implies a strong inference that something was completed.

FAQs

How can I use "should have finished" in a sentence?

Use "should have finished" to express that something was expected or desired to be completed in the past but wasn't. For example, "He "should have finished the book" by now."

What are some alternatives to "should have finished"?

Alternatives include "ought to have completed", "was supposed to have completed", or "needed to have finalized". The best alternative depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

What's the difference between "should have finished" and "should finish"?

"Should have finished" refers to something that was expected to be completed in the past but wasn't, while "should finish" refers to something that is expected to be completed in the future or present. For example, "I "should have finished yesterday"" versus "I "should finish tomorrow"".

Is it correct to say "should of finished" instead of "should have finished"?

No, "should of finished" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "should have finished". "Should've" is a contraction of "should have", but "should of" is never correct.