should have recovered

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "should have recovered" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to express an expectation or belief that someone or something was expected to recover from a situation or condition in the past. Example: "After the surgery, the doctors said he should have recovered by now, but he is still experiencing complications."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

On the defendant's own evidence, plaintiff should have recovered.

Harvard University

But with sensible policy the economy should have recovered by now.

The Economist

Fingers are being crossed that Catt and Andy Lloyd will resume training this week, while Matt Perry should have recovered from a hamstring twinge by next week.

The Guardian - Sport

The commission said the loss was substantive, but that by the time the woodlands are mature enough to supply timber, they should have recovered any lost volume.

The Guardian

Blaise Matuidi was a mighty presence last year once PSG had gone down to 10 men in the fixture and should have recovered from a thigh strain in time to start.

The Guardian - Sport

Grant Basey should have recovered from an ankle injury in time to slot in.

BBC

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

The Treasury would lose a stunning $60 billion in tax revenues -- almost 40percentt of the bill's cost -- in 2003 or later, when the economy should already have recovered.

The New York Times

Was hosting them really a good idea, "at a time," a minister asked, "when we should not have recovered from our economic difficulties"?

The Economist

Arsenal are expected to show several changes for the cup tie, with Denmark forward Nicklas Bendtner a possible starter should he have recovered from the ankle problem he suffered against Cardiff on New Year's Day.

Independent

And, having already called up Chris Morris as a replacement for Dale Steyn, should his shoulder strain not have recovered, they have been forced to bring in yet another paceman, Hardus Viljoen, who has taken 20 wickets in two matches for Highveld Lions, as cover for Kyle Abbott.

The Guardian - Sport

However, he seems to have recovered and should be able to start.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "should have recovered" when expressing an expectation or belief that something or someone was expected to recover by a certain point in the past. It often implies a sense of disappointment or surprise if the recovery didn't occur.

Common error

Avoid using "should have recovered" when referring to a future event. This phrase is specifically for past expectations. For future scenarios, use "should recover" or "should be recovered".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "should have recovered" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing an expectation, advice, or logical conclusion about a past event. As Ludwig AI confirms, it’s grammatically correct and used to indicate an anticipated recovery that may or may not have occurred.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Science

30%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "should have recovered" is a modal verb phrase used to express an expectation or belief that something or someone was expected to recover by a certain point in the past. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound, appearing most frequently in news and media contexts, with a presence in scientific and academic sources as well. The phrase implies an anticipated recovery that may or may not have occurred, carrying a sense of potential disappointment or surprise if the recovery was not realized. Related phrases like "ought to have recovered" or "was expected to have recovered" offer alternative ways to express similar ideas, with slight variations in emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

ought to have recovered

Replaces "should" with "ought to", indicating a sense of moral obligation or expectation.

was expected to have recovered

Emphasizes the expectation of recovery, removing the element of advisability.

was supposed to have recovered

Indicates an arrangement or plan for recovery that may or may not have been fulfilled.

presumably recovered by now

Suggests recovery is likely based on available information or assumptions.

would have been expected to recover

Puts the emphasis on a general expectation in the past.

must have recovered by now

Expresses a strong inference about the past recovery.

it was anticipated they'd recover

Uses a more formal tone and focuses on the anticipation of recovery.

it was predicted they'd be better

Emphasizes an earlier prediction about the improvement.

they were estimated to be healed

Implies some sort of measurement or observation has been done about someone's health.

it was guessed they'd recover

Emphasizes a guess about the past recovery.

FAQs

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

Use "should have recovered" to express an expectation that someone or something was expected to improve or return to a normal state in the past. For example, "After the treatment, she "should have recovered" by now."

What's a synonym for "should have recovered"?

Similar phrases include "ought to have recovered", "was expected to have recovered", or "was supposed to have recovered", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

What does "should have recovered" imply?

"Should have recovered" implies that a recovery was anticipated or expected, but there's a question or concern about whether it actually happened. It often carries a sense of past expectation and potential disappointment if the recovery didn't occur as planned.

Is "should have recovered" the same as "has recovered"?

No, "has recovered" indicates that the recovery definitely happened. "Should have recovered" suggests an expectation of recovery, not necessarily a confirmed recovery. The phrase "has recovered" implies the action is completed while the phrase ""should have recovered"" implies doubt or possibility.