tense

[Hanka]

Hello,

could you please help me with the tense in the following sentence again?

The freight company offered/has offered transport of the components to London within 30 days, which means that the goods will be supplied to you by December 10, 2006.

Thank you very much.

Hanka

[riverkid]

Hello,
could you please help me with the tense in the following sentence again?
The freight company offered/has offered transport of the components to London within 30 days, which means that the goods will be supplied to you by December 10, 2006.
Thank you very much.
Hanka

One difference, Hanka, between these two is that the present perfect is used in more formal situations. Another difference is that by using the PP, this action of 'offering' can be made more important, more current, more connected to the present situation.

[Anglika]

"has offered" would make more sense in a business connection

[Nikole]

PP is also more emphatic

[rewboss]

The present perfect connects a past action with the present. The offer is still valid, it's saying; you can take the company up on it.

If you said, "The freight company offered..." there might be some doubt as to whether the offer had since been withdrawn: "...but they have since changed their minds, so it looks like you'll have to wait until June."