'would have' or 'would of'?

[PollyA]

I think its one of those strange language things, not necessarily laziness. If you say would've or should've outloud they really sound like would of and should of, and since language is taught verbally much more than written, its just been "adapted" over time.
In saying that, "of" isn't correct, The word should is an auxillary verb indictaing obligation to carry out the verb that follows. Of is not a verb and therefore "should of" just doesn't work gramatically
"Of" is a preposition not a verb.

On a completely different note, the words should and would are not very helpful in many ways. I spoke to counsellor the other day who works with young people dying of terminal illness, usually cancer. His colleague has a poster he gives to his clients which reads "I will not should myself today". Sometimes the "shoulds" expressed on the forum get me down too. Especially in terms of parenting which has a million different answers and rarely any definites with a couple of exceptions like "You should not put coke in a baby's bottle" Anyway very philosophical thism morning.

You should use have lol!

[Doing my best]

I think its one of those strange language things, not necessarily laziness. If you say would've or should've outloud they really sound like would of and should of, and since language is taught verbally much more than written, its just been "adapted" over time.

I am sorry, but I disagree with this. Yes, it is how it sounds when said verbally, but we should still be teaching the correct written grammer to our children (or peers who are learning English, or how to read/write etc). I don't think it has been adapted as a correct form of grammer.

[DaintreeDream]

Yep 'would have or would've' or ' should have or should' ve'.

Ohh that makes so much sense, for some reason this always gets me! Now that I have burnt the 've in my memory I should remember.

i'm pretty sure it's "have". the "of" just comes from our laziness in forming words when speaking. i can't think of any context off the top of my head where should of/would of makes sense

I had a feeling that the 'of' was from being lazy but as I said above, it always gets me so I refuse to type it at all

Thankyou!

[PollyA]

Hey Doing my best,
I totally agree, was editing my post as you posted to add that I thought the same, just trying to think about why it was such a commonly used incorrect phrase

[Aimz]

I am sorry, but I disagree with this. Yes, it is how it sounds when said verbally, but we should still be teaching the correct written grammer to our children (or peers who are learning English, or how to read/write etc). I don't think it has been adapted as a correct form of grammer.

^ yeah, that!

Would've and should've just sounds like 'of' when spoken, but grammatically 'of' is incorrect.

[Nelle]

You're all wrong.

It's woulda or shoulda.

[Raupe]

You're all wrong.

It's woulda or shoulda.

yeah that!