?subjunctive question

[Patf]

Can someone tell me how to say in french "I should not have done" something? Or "I should never have done "something.

I think it probably involves the subjunctive or some verb like falloir which I've never learnt.

Don't ask what offence I've comitted [:)] - pas grave (I hope.)

[suein56]

I don't feel the subjunctive is needed and would say :

Je n'aurais pas dû faire + whatever it is you shouldn't have done.

Sue

[Patf]

Thanks sue - I'll try to compose the message now.

Pat.

[andrew44]

Conditional, not subjunctive.

Je n'aurais pas dû...

Je n'aurais jamais dû...

@+

Andrew44

[Chancer]

You two beat me to it!

It doesn't really fit with my understanding of the conditionnel but thats how it is said.

 

Maybe the conditional part is the unsaid, "I would never have done it" .................................(had I known)

[vivienz]

I always have a version of the specsavers advert kicking around in my head

J'aurais du aller a Specsavers.

[NormanH]

Another useful formula is :

"Je n'aurais pas pu..." -- I wouldn't have been able to...

"Je n'aurais pas pu payer l'addition si mon ami ne m'avait pas donné de l'argent

"Je n'aurais pas dû..." -- I shouldn't have...

"Je n'aurais pas dû donner de l'argent à mon ami parce qu'il l'a tout employé pour aller au restaurant."

In speech one often hears them without the n'

J'aurais pas dû..

[Patf]

Thanks to all - it turned out to be one of the usual misunderstandings because of the language problems.

Wouldn't you think misunderstanding would be 'malcompris'? But no, it's 'malentendu' = badly heard?

All friends again now.

[Chancer]

You can use mal compris to say that I/he/they misunderstood but a misunderstanding is a malentendu which kind of makes sense when you think of what is the root cause of most misunderstandings!

[nectarine]

gosh this is such a useful posting, thanks to all contributors. I've got these phrases in my head now ready for when / if I need then ..