Can "what have you done" be asked in a neutral way?
I'd like to know if "what have you done?" can be used as a neutral question, since it is often used to express anger, shock or sadness. For example: I want to close a window that has been opened by someone else, but it doesn't close. Can I ask the person who has opened it in a neutral, friendly way: "what have you done to my window?" or is "what have you been doing to my window?" more appropriate? Or do both sound accusatory?
Top answer
" can be used in a neutral way. Forget the example.
- " can be used in a neutral way.
- Forget the example.
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To clarify: I just want to know if "what have you done?" can be used in a neutral way. Forget the example.
0How about these?
What have you done to keep your knowledge up to date?
What have you done in New Zealand that you've never done or experienced before?
What have you done to protect yourself from identity theft?
What have you done to deserve such bad luck?
0What have you done? is not accusatory, although referring to it 'as 'my window' makes it sound like the other person shouldn't have done anything to it.
More neutral is eg What have you been doing in this window?
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