View Single Post
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 28-Sep-2004, 15:39
Steven D's Avatar
Steven D Steven D is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Country: U.S.A.
Posts: 835
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Steven D is an unknown quantity at this point
Default

As for whether you feel they (i.e., the questions Have/Did) differ in meaning, what are your thoughts? <<<<

The grammatical form in this case could indicate a difference in meaning, but in such a context where the simple past is used with "yet", I don't think there would be any intended difference in meaning on the part of the speaker.

I would just say that, as usual, the simple past indicates a complete action, while the present perfect indicates "up until now".

Did you eat yet. - emphasis on a completed action

Have you eaten yet - emphasis on "at any time up until now" starting from a time when one would be expected to eat

They're really the same.

Despite how "yet" is defined, I have no problem with it being used with the simple past. Perhaps it's time to expand the definition of "yet" in American English?
Reply With Quote