"you should tell me before" vs "you should have told before"

Question

"you should tell me before" vs "you should have told before"

Both phrases have different meanings and can be correct depending on the context. 'You should have told me before' is used to express regret or disappointment that someone did not inform you earlier. 'You should tell me before' is a request for someone to inform you in advance. The choice between the two depends on whether you are referring to a past missed opportunity for communication or a general expectation for future communication.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

'You should tell me before' is a request for someone to inform you in advance of a particular event or action.

Alternatives:

Please let me know beforehand
Kindly inform me in advance
Could you give me a heads-up?

The correct phrase is 'You should have told me before,' which is used to express regret or disappointment that someone did not inform you earlier.

Alternatives:

You should have told me earlier
You should have informed me before
You should have given me a heads-up earlier

Answer 1

you should tell me before

This phrase is correct in English and is used to request someone to inform you in advance.

Answer 2

you should have told before

This phrase is not correct in English. It is missing the object 'me' after 'told'.

"you should tell me before" vs "you should have told before"

you should tell me before

you should have told before

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