Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 30-Jul-2006, 17:45
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Country: Lithuania
Posts: 15
First Language: Lithuanian
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Aurimas is on a distinguished road
Default Present perfect and past simple in America

In British English present perfect is used for an action in the past with a result now:
"I've lost my key. Have you seen it?"

In American English present perfect OR past simple can be used:
"I've lost my key. Have you seen it?"
or
"I lost my key. Did you see it?"

Question:
Which form is more common in American English?
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 30-Jul-2006, 17:53
Key Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Country: USA
Posts: 1,838
Current Location: North Carolina
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 63 Times in 57 Posts
mykwyner will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Present perfect and past simple in America

I say, "I lost my key. Have you seen it?"

I lost my key is a single event that happened at a particular time in the past.

Have you seen it is an event that could have happened at any time in the past since the key was lost, up to and including the present.
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 30-Jul-2006, 18:32
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Country: Lithuania
Posts: 15
First Language: Lithuanian
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Aurimas is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Present perfect and past simple in America

Quote:
Originally Posted by mykwyner
I say, "I lost my key. Have you seen it?"
I lost my key is a single event that happened at a particular time in the past.
Have you seen it is an event that could have happened at any time in the past since the key was lost, up to and including the present.
OK, but let us say you wanted to say that Bill went out recently and didn't come back yet... which form would you use then?

1. 'Where's Bill?', 'he's gone out'
or
2. he went out.

that is, which form do you use in your daily life, when somebody asks you similar questions? or does it differ from the situation, that is, both forms are equaly common?
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 30-Jul-2006, 20:57
Key Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Country: USA
Posts: 1,838
Current Location: North Carolina
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 63 Times in 57 Posts
mykwyner will become famous soon enough
Default Re: Present perfect and past simple in America

I suppose that I use 2 more frequently, but I use 1 a lot also.
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 31-Jul-2006, 12:48
Newbie
 
Join Date: Jul 2006
Country: Lithuania
Posts: 15
First Language: Lithuanian
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Aurimas is on a distinguished road
Default Re: Present perfect and past simple in America

Quote:
Originally Posted by mykwyner
I suppose that I use 2 more frequently, but I use 1 a lot also.
But you don't feel any difference when you do, do you?
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Tags
present, perfect, past, simple, america

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
i need urgent help nita Ask a Teacher 3 12-Feb-2008 22:54
Present perfect vs Past simple pidr1nhu Ask a Teacher 1 28-Apr-2006 04:17
Replacing past perfect and present perfect by past simple tense. isahne Ask a Teacher 1 18-Apr-2006 16:18
present perfect / simple past sentence snickchap Ask a Teacher 2 03-Feb-2006 06:21
present perfect and simple past ripley Ask a Teacher 7 26-Sep-2004 13:16


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 03:04.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com