[Grammar] usage of have

[rita_b]

hello,

I am Rita from kolkata. I am having problem with the usage of "HAVE".

EXAMPLE: 1) I have lost my phone or I lost my phone - Which one is more appropriate?

2) I have given the letter to him or I gave the letter to him - Which one is correct.

Please help.

Regards,

Rita

 

[corum]

hello,

I am Rita from kolkata. I am having problem with the usage of "HAVE".

EXAMPLE: 1) I have lost my phone or I lost my phone - Which one is more appropriate?

2) I have given the letter to him or I gave the letter to him - Which one is correct.

Please help.

Regards,

Rita

1. Both are fine but they do not mean the same thing. (Quirk et al., 1985)
2. Same.

 

[TheParser]

hello,

I am Rita from kolkata. I am having problem with the usage of "HAVE".

EXAMPLE: 1) I have lost my phone or I lost my phone - Which one is more appropriate?

2) I have given the letter to him or I gave the letter to him - Which one is correct.

Please help.

Regards,

Rita

***** NOT A TEACHER *****

Good morning, Rita.

(1) This is a very confusing matter -- sometimes even for native speakers.

(2) If you get a chance, it would be very helpful to study a good grammar

book or Internet article on the difference between the past tense ("lost")

and the present perfect tense ("have lost").

(3) In general, it is helpful to remember that one uses the present perfect

if what happened in the past still "touches" or affects your life now; it is

helpful to use the past if you wish to mention an action that was finished

at a particular time in the past.

MARTHA: Please call me on your cellphone at 1 p.m. today.

YOU: I can't.

MARTHA: Why not?

YOU: I have lost my phone.

MARTHA: Really? When did that happen?

YOU: I lost my phone yesterday.

***** Have a nice day!

 

[rita_b]

thanks a lot