Can-Do Task: A Missed Opportunity

Task: describe a real missed opportunity in your life using should have, could have, and needn’t have.

Notice

  • Example: I could have taken that job in another city, but I should have thought about it more carefully. In the end, I needn’t have worried so much — my current job worked out fine too.

Rule

Your task: Write 5–7 sentences about a real (or invented) missed opportunity or past decision. Use at least one example each of should(n’t) have, needn’t have, and could(n’t) have.

Practice

  1. Planning line: what missed opportunity will you write about?
    Answer: Personal answer — e.g. a job, a trip, a course not taken.
  2. Draft one sentence using “could have”.
    Answer: Personal answer, e.g. ‘I could have studied abroad.’

Connect

Build your missed-opportunity sentences before writing your final paragraph.

Try Sentence Builder →

CEFR: Writing — write clear, detailed text expressing feelings about past events.

Azizul Hakim
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