I should have

Question

Hello, A question please, as I'm unsure which is the correct way to write the following:

I should have gone to work yesterday (but I didn't)

Debería haber ido al trabajo ayer

o

Hubiera ido al trabajo ayer

As it's an event in the past which is no longer possible, I think that "hubiera" is the most appropriate, or do both sentences work?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I would say: Debería haber ido al trabajo ayer.

Hubiera ido al trabajo ayer sounds like you regret that you didn't go.
For example:

Hubiera ido a su casa, habría sido divertido...

Debería haber ido a su casa, pero estaba ocupado...

Thanks Aileribel. - Aodhan, Aug 4, 2013

Answer 2

So, "hubiera" normally implies an expression of regret?

For example, if I say:

if I had stayed in that hotel, it would have been a disaster. Si me hubiera alojado en ese hotel, habría sido un desastre.

Although I'm expressing happiness, rather than regret in this case.

Thanks.

Not really, hubiera implies "if" as you used it, regretfully or not. :) - chileno, Aug 4, 2013