Would you prefer something that you should have done or could have done?

Question

Would you prefer something that you should have done or could have done?

Answer 1

Could have done because if you should have done something then well, u probably should have done it.

Answer 2

To say that you "should" have done something, assumes that you "could" have done it.  This sentence is clearly an absurdity, it isn't applicable to say "should" when you "can't"!:

"I should have flapped my arms and flown gently to the ground instead of falling and breaking my legs like that."  

"Should" is called a "Normative" term, and implies a sense of ethical or other sort of personal judgment.  There are no facts about "Should"s, but "Could" is much closer to being an objective and verifiable attribution.

So, you can't say that you would "prefer that you should have" rather than that you "could have" because Should implies Could.  So the obvious answer to your question (even though it basically is nonsense anyway) is to say:

Of course I would prefer something I could have done, because if I also "Should" have done it, it would be a regret.  I "Could" have become a hardened criminal, or I could have been an ignorant, small-souled person, but I didn't!  

Maybe that's your point in asking the question...to bring out how obvious it is that you "should" prefer a "could" ;).

Answer 3

Could.  Should requires regret and could gives permission to choose.

Answer 4

Shoulda, woulda, coulda