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Old 28-Apr-2006, 03:16
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Default Present perfect vs Past simple

I have got a question about these sentences...which are classified as present perfect

"I have broken my watch, so I don't know the time."
"The film has come out on DVD, so let's buy it."
"Why is he so happy?
- Because he has bought a car."

What reason do you use to classify these sentences as prensent perfect, what they have in common that makes them be present perfect?

Both senteces I thought that would be past simple

In the first sentence the action of breaking the watch, is already done (completed ).
The action of coming out...is already done, the film has already come out...
The same reason i used to classify the third sentence.

Regards!
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Old 28-Apr-2006, 05:17
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Default Re: Present perfect vs Past simple

In English, if the action is past but affects the present, then we use the present perfect- the act of breaking the watch is past, but it has an impact on now because I don't know the time.
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