English grammar
Reproaches: what were you thinking, -ing?, how could you…?, you had no business -ing, you could at least have…
Reproach someone for what they did, or didn't do.
From the scene What were you thinking?
In short
Reproach someone with What were you thinking, -ing?, How could you…?, You had no business -ing, You could at least have…
Your turn
Which one goes with how could you + verb??
Options: you had no business opening my envelope · how could you write this about me? · what were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox?
Show answer
how could you + verb? → how could you write this about me?
How it works
What were you thinking, + -ing? and How could you + verb? attack something the other person did.
Good to know
You had no business + -ing says they had no right to do it.
Good to know
You could at least have + past participle complains about the minimum they didn't do; it's sharper than should have, because at least says it would have been easy.
what were you thinking, + -ing? what were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox?
Elena
What were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox? It was the subject, not the addressee!
¿Cómo se te ocurre dejarlo en su buzón? ¡Era el tema, no el destinatario!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank)? It was the subject, not the addressee!
Options: What were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox · How could you write this about me · You had no business opening my envelope
Show answer
Elena
What were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox? It was the subject, not the addressee!
¿Cómo se te ocurre dejarlo en su buzón? ¡Era el tema, no el destinatario!
how could you + verb? how could you write this about me?
Ramón
Elena, how could you write this about me?
Elena, ¿cómo se le ocurre escribir esto de mí?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Elena, (blank)?
Options: what were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox · you had no business opening my envelope · how could you write this about me
Show answer
Ramón
Elena, how could you write this about me?
Elena, ¿cómo se le ocurre escribir esto de mí?
you had no business + -ing (no right) you had no business opening my envelope
Elena
You had no business opening my envelope.
Usted no tenía por qué abrir mi sobre.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank).
Options: How could you write this about me · You had no business opening my envelope · What were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox
Show answer
Elena
You had no business opening my envelope.
Usted no tenía por qué abrir mi sobre.
you could at least have + participle (the minimum) you could at least have warned me
Ramón
It had my name on it! You could at least have warned me.
¡Llevaba mi nombre! Ya podría haberme avisado.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
It had my name on it! (blank).
Options: What were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox · How could you write this about me · You could at least have warned me
Show answer
Ramón
It had my name on it! You could at least have warned me.
¡Llevaba mi nombre! Ya podría haberme avisado.
blame the content, not me (idiom) don't shoot the messenger
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| what were you thinking, + -ing? | what were you thinking, leaving it in his letterbox? |
|---|---|
| how could you + verb? | how could you write this about me? |
| you had no business + -ing (no right) | you had no business opening my envelope |
| you could at least have + participle (the minimum) | you could at least have warned me |
| blame the content, not me (idiom) | don't shoot the messenger |
More lines from the story
- JaviIn Don Ramón's letterbox. The envelope said "Chapter three: Ramón".En el buzón de Don Ramón. El sobre decía "Capítulo tres: Ramón".
- ElenaRelax, Ramón. The book doesn't come out until May.Tranquilo, Ramón. El libro no sale hasta mayo.