Grammar › N4 · 05 Conditionals & suggestions

〜ばよかった: I should have ...

N4 · 05 Conditionals & suggestions

Expresses regret: it would have been good if I had done it.

ば-form + よかった. Negative: 〜なければよかった ("I should not have"). Often ends with なあ or のに. Similar: 〜ていればよかった, 〜たらよかった.

Examples

もっと早はやく寝ねればよかった。

I should have gone to bed earlier.

あの店みせで買かえばよかったなあ。

I should have bought it at that shop.