[Grammar] Should do or should have done

[Waawe]

Hey,

if a teacher starts a lesson checking on the homework passed the previous lesson, what should s/he say?

A/ For today's lesson you should have read the article about the Lost Colony.

or

B/ For today's lesson you should read the article about the Lost Colony.

As the assignment was passed, let's say, last week, I would prefer the former one. Yet, doesn't the structure should have read suggest the students were asked to do homework, but they failed to bring it?

I will appreciate all of your comments/reflections/explanations.

Thank you.

Waawe

 

[kfredson]

Hey,

if a teacher starts a lesson checking on the homework passed the previous lesson, what should s/he say?

A/ For today's lesson you should have read the article about the Lost Colony.

or

B/ For today's lesson you should read the article about the Lost Colony.

As the assignment was passed, let's say, last week, I would prefer the former one. Yet, doesn't the structure should have read suggest the students were asked to do homework, but they failed to bring it?

I will appreciate all of your comments/reflections/explanations.

Thank you.

Waawe

No, "you should have read" could be a simple reminder. You don't know if they did or not, so you can't say "you read." "You were all to have read..." is another way of saying this.

Now, if you say "You SHOULD have read these pages..." you are implying that they probably didn't.

 

[Waawe]

Sorry, I am a bit slow. Are you suggesting then that the teacher should say:

"For today's lesson you should have read the article about the Lost Colony." without assuming whether they did or did not?

And if he/she stresses the pronunciation of "should", it changes its meaning into reproach?

Thank you for help.

W

 

[bhaisahab]

Sorry, I am a bit slow. Are you suggesting then that the teacher should say:

"For today's lesson you should have read the article about the Lost Colony." without assuming whether they did or did not?

And if he/she stresses the pronunciation of "should", it changes its meaning into reproach?

Thank you for help.

W

I think that is what kfredson was saying, it's certainly what I would have said.

 

[Tdol]

You could also say 'you should all have read' so that it doesn't sound like a criticism of those who have done the work.