which is correct,help please,?

Question

you COULD have told me or you SHOULD have told me. l have problem using COULD and SHOULD correctly.can you please explain to me when to use them and the difference between the two

Answer 1

this is always hard as it relies on you sense of urgency.

Could have told is more of a statement of the fact that you can tell this person something...you are able to and possibly would have if you could have.

Should have told is more of an impertive statement of the fact you are required to tell this person something...perhaps you should have if you could have...

(*wink*)

Answer 2

COULD: refers to ability of a person, so if you say "you COULD
HAVE TOLD ME" you mean the person knew the information that you wanted to be told of, and had the ability to tell you that information but did not tell you.
SHOULD refers to the duty or obligation of the person to have told you. By saying "YOU SHOULD HAVE TOLD ME" you mean the person had a duty (legal, moral or other duty) to have told you something but he or she did not tell you what he or she had the obligation to tell you.

here's the list of all 32 english verb tenses:
example: TO WALK – 32 tenses of English verbs

I WALK
I DO WALK
I AM WALKING

I WALKED
I DID WALK
I WAS WALKING
I USED TO WALK
I USED TO BE WALKING
I HAVE WALKED
I HAD WALKED
I HAVE BEEN WALKING
I HAD BEEN WALKING

I WILL WALK
I WILL BE WALKING
I WILL HAVE WALKED
I WILL HAVE BEEN WALKING

I WOULD WALK
I WOULD BE WALKING
I WOULD HAVE WALKED
I WOULD HAVE BEEN WALKING

I SHOULD WALK
I SHOULD BE WALKING
I SHOULD HAVE WALKED
I SHOULD HAVE BEEN WALKING

I MIGHT WALK
I MIGHT BE WALKING
I MIGHT HAVE WALKED
I MIGHT HAVE BEEN WALKING

I MAY WALK
I MAY BE WALKING
I MAY HAVE WALKED
I MAY HAVE BEEN WALKING

Answer 3

you COULD have told me that the road was closed, so I wouldn't have had to be stuck there!
you SHOULD have warned me that the road was closed!

hope this helps!!

Answer 4

In your example, 'You could have told me' = 'You would have been/were able to tell me.'
'You should have told me' = 'You ought to have told me.'