How to see it
Standard English is the English used in writing and in exams. Lots of people speak differently at home, and that is fine. In a paper, you write Standard English. We were, not we was. I did, or I have done, not I done. Those books, not them books. Should have, not should of.
A worked example
We was. We means more than one, so we were. Them books. Them is a pronoun, and a pronoun does not go in front of a noun. Use those: those books. We were meant to bring those books back.
The common mistake: writing what you hear
The trap is writing what you hear. Said quickly, should have becomes should've, and should've sounds just like should of. But of is not a verb. Write the full words: should have, could have, would have.
Try one
Which part of the sentence contains a mistake? If there is none, choose None.
- AYou should of
- Bseen the size
- Cof the waves
- Dat the beach today.
- ENone
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Right: A, You should of
Should of is should have, written the way it sounds. You should have seen the size of the waves.