simple past with "yet" ,"alredy"

Status
Not open for further replies.

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
If I took an exam, would you consider the following sentences to be grammaticaly incorrec?

"Did you hear that yet?" ( Instead of "have you")
OR
" Go get some wine"
" I already did''
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
***Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.***

If I took an exam, would you consider the following sentences as grammatically incorrect?

"Did you hear that yet?" (Instead of "have you")
Or
"Go get some wine!"
"I already did.''

To be honest: Yes, I would consider them as grammatically incorrect.
(Except sentence 2 - "Go get some wine!" because it is the short form of "Go and get some wine!")

Although I'm a big fan of American English I really dislike it when people use already, just, yet, etc. without putting in Simple Past elements.

I would fully accept:
I already got some wine yesterday.
You cannot say, "I have already got some wine yesterday," because yesterday is over.
This means the Simple Past is necessary here.
If you don't put any Simple Past elements, then just stick to:
I've already done that.
Have you already heard that yet/so far?

Anyway it's fully normal for American English - so your sentences would be okay there.

Cheers!
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
If I took an exam, would you consider the following sentences to be grammatically incorrect?

"Did you hear that yet?" ( Instead of "have you")
OR
" Go get some wine"
" I already did''
As you have asked, I have to say that I would mark both as wrong.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
***Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.***



To be honest: Yes, I would consider them as grammatically incorrect.
(Except sentence 2 - "Go get some wine!" because it is the short form of "Go and get some wine!")

Although I'm a big fan of American English I really dislike it when people use already, just, yet, etc. without putting in Simple Past elements.

I would fully accept:
I already got some wine yesterday. Here, "already" is redundant and ugly.
You cannot say, "I have already got some wine yesterday," because yesterday is over.
This means the Simple Past is necessary here.
If you don't put any Simple Past elements, then just stick to:
I've already done that.
Have you already heard that yet/so far? Here, either "already", "yet" or "so far" is redundant. "Have you already heard that?" "Have you heard that yet?" or possibly, "Have you heard that so far?"

Anyway it's fully normal for American English - so your sentences would be okay there.

Cheers!
.
 

Nightmare85

Senior Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
German
Home Country
Germany
Current Location
Germany
Have you already heard that yet/so far?

Sorry, that was a typo.
Already doesn't belong here, yes.

P.S. Private message? ;-)

Cheers!
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
What should one use instead of "I already did?" I already have done so?

That's a lot of words.
 

ostap77

Key Member
Joined
Sep 9, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
Have you already heard that yet/so far?

Sorry, that was a typo.
Already doesn't belong here, yes.

P.S. Private message? ;-)

Cheers!
That's pretty much about the difference the AmE and BE usage. Any advice would be appreciated.
 

birdeen's call

VIP Member
Joined
Jul 15, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Polish
Home Country
Poland
Current Location
Poland
What should one use instead of "I already did?" I already have done so?

That's a lot of words.
To my knowledge, "I've already done." Why are you putting "already" before the auxiliary? Is it a common practice where you live?
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
I'll be ready to go as soon as I feed the dog.

1. Mom, don't feed her. I have already done so. -- No, I don't think so!
2. Mom, you don't have to feed her! I already did. -- Normal American usage
3. Mom, I already have. -- This seems fine, but no more correct than the one above and not as natural.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
I'll be ready to go as soon as I feed the dog.

1. Mom, don't feed her. I have already done so. -- No, I don't think so!
2. Mom, you don't have to feed her! I already did. -- Normal American usage
3. Mom, I already have. -- This seems fine, but no more correct than the one above and not as natural.
"I already have" is correct and natural in BrE.
 

bhaisahab

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 12, 2008
Member Type
Retired English Teacher
Native Language
British English
Home Country
England
Current Location
Ireland
In fact, while "I've/I have already done so" wouldn't be very common, I do know people who would say that.
I think the most common way in BrE would be "I've already done it".
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
And that's fine, but #2 is not wrong in the U.S.
 

SoothingDave

VIP Member
Joined
Apr 17, 2009
Member Type
Interested in Language
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
To my knowledge, "I've already done." Why are you putting "already" before the auxiliary? Is it a common practice where you live?

"I already did" seems natural to me.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top