Archive for the ‘English for children’ Category

Criticizing people for doing or not doing things

February 21st, 2015 in English for children

To criticize people for not doing things use the structure you could have + past participle.

  • You could have told me you weren’t coming.
  • You could have behaved more decently.
  • You could have paid for those drinks.
  • You could have repaired the laptop.
  • You could have knocked before entering my room.
  • You could have told me you were quitting.

The structure You should have + past participle can also be used to criticize people for not doing things.

  • You should have made another attempt.
  • You should have waited a little longer.
  • You should have accepted that invitation.
  • You should have asked for help.

Use You should not have… to criticize people for doing unwanted things.

  • You shouldn’t have called him a fool.
  • You shouldn’t have wasted that opportunity.
  • You shouldn’t have waited for his approval.
  • You shouldn’t have resigned.
  • You shouldn’t have ignored the symptoms.
  • You shouldn’t have invited him.

The structure Needn’t have… is also used to talk about unwanted things that happened.

  • You needn’t have woken me up. I don’t have to go to work today.
  • You needn’t have called the police.
  • You needn’t have cooked so much food. Nobody was hungry.
  • You needn’t have watered the plants. Just after you finished it started raining.