GI17 · Regret: 〜ば よかった

Before you start

The sentences use words you already know, up to the intermediate level, in kanji with furigana, and assume elementary grammar.

This lesson assumes what you saw in the earlier ones. If something feels shaky, go back to it:

• GI01say something is excessive
• GI02say whether something is easy or hard to do
• GI03say what you do something for
• GI04say what you do to avoid something
• GI05pass on what you've heard
• GI06say what seems to be so
• GI07say something has just happened
• GI08say what point of an action you're at
• GI09say you start or finish something
• GI10list some of the things you do
• GI11give a reason softly
• GI12express surprise or a complaint
• GI13describe a change in ability or habit
• GI14report a decision
• GI15say one thing grows with another
• GI16give permission politely

What you learn

〜ば よかったです

• よかったI should have… (〜ば よかった)

The ば-form + よかったです regrets something you didn't do: よやくを すれば よかったです (I should have booked). With the ない-form, something you did: いかなければ よかった.

• 予約よやくを すれば よかったです。yoyaku o sureba yokatta desu.I should have booked.
• 薬くすりを 飲のめば よかったです。kusuri o nomeba yokatta desu.I should have taken the medicine.
• 地図ちずを 見みれば よかったです。chizu o mireba yokatta desu.I should have looked at the map.
• 説明せつめいを 聞きけば よかったです。setsumei o kikeba yokatta desu.I should have listened to the explanation.
• 資料しりょうを 読よめば よかったです。shiryou o yomeba yokatta desu.I should have read the materials.
• 傘かさを 買かえば よかったです。kasa o kaeba yokatta desu.I should have bought an umbrella.

Practice

A short text with words and grammar you already know; kanji carry their reading above. Read it and answer.