[Common Mistakes] To mean regret, ばよかった? とよかった?

Today I am going to share the homework correction quoted from my JLPT N3 course!
The student’s sentence is not correct. Can you find the mistake?

 

[Student’s sentence]

今日雨が降るから、かさを持ってくるとよかった。

*きょうあめがふるから、かさをもってくるとよかった。

 



 

[My correction]

今日雨が降るから、かさを持ってくるとよかった。
→今日雨が降るから、かさを持ってくればよかった。
It’s going to rain today, I should have brought an umbrella.

〜ばよかった
=〜べきだった (should have)
=〜したほうがよかったのに、しなかった (I should have done…, but I didn’t.)

〜ばよかった means regret,  “something that one actually did or did not do led to a bad outcome”, 〜とよかった is not used with this form.

e.g.
◎大学時代(だいがくじだい)に、もっと勉強(べんきょう)すればよかった
×大学時代に、もっと勉強するとよかった。
I should have studied more when I was in university.

◎昨日(きのう)、早(はや)く寝(ね)ればよかった
×昨日、早く寝るとよかった。
I should have gone to bed early yesterday.

 

I hope my explanation helps you. 😊

 

In the JLPT course, all lessons come with homework, if you submit your homework, I will reply with corrections.
I can break down the Japanese grammar and point out mistakes, explaining the structure and nuances of Japanese in an easy-to-understand way.
You can also ask me any questions as much as you want. I will teach you until you get it!

 

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