Really? I hadn't noticed.

[Maybo]

A conversation from the TV show "Ugly Betty"

Betty: As we all know, living in Manhattan can be expensive.
Wilhelmina: Really? I hadn't noticed.
Daniel: There's no need to be sarcastic, Wilhelmina.
Wilhelmina: No. I honestly never noticed.

Why did the speaker say "hadn't noticed" and not "haven't noticed"?

 

[Tarheel]

Maybe she means that until Betty pointed it out she didn't know that. (Which does seem like sarcasm.)

However, there's only one way to be certain.

 

[Maybo]

Maybe she means that until Betty pointed it out she didn't know that. (Which does seem like sarcasm.)

However, there's only one way to be certain.

If the speaker used "I haven't noticed", in what situation would it be used most likely?

 

[English.channel1991]

If the speaker used "I haven't noticed", in what situation would it be used most likely?

Using perfect tenses, in general, relates two parts in the timeline. Past perfect relates action A to action B which both are set in the past. Present perfect on the other hand, relates past to present. So based on that matter, when you use "I haven't noticed' it means up until now, but when you say" I hadn't noticed" it means, as Tarheel said, up to the moment that you mentioned it.

 

[Tarheel]

If the speaker used "I haven't noticed", in what situation would it be used most likely?

It would in my humble opinion work in the same situation you mentioned. Somebody said something about something, and then you said you haven't noticed. In other words, you haven't seen what they've seen. That hasn't been your experience.

Liz: It's been really cold lately.
Ron: I haven't noticed.
Liz: You haven't been outside.
Ron: That could be it

 

[Maybo]

Liz: It's been really cold lately.
Ron: I haven't noticed.
Liz: You haven't been outside.
Ron: That could be it

If Ron noticed that after Liz said, then Ron should say "I hadn't noticed"?

Liz: It's been really cold lately.
(Ron steps outside)
Ron: I hadn't noticed.

 

[Tarheel]

If Ron noticed that after Liz said THAT, then Ron should say "I hadn't noticed"?

Liz: It's been really cold lately.
(Ron steps outside)
Ron: I hadn't noticed.

That makes sense.

It's partly cloudy and 40 degrees outside.

 

[Maybo]

"I haven't noticed' it means up until now, but when you say" I hadn't noticed" it means, as Tarheel said, up to the moment that you mentioned it.

Isn’t it that “I haven’t noticed” it means up to the moment that I mention it?
“I hadn’t noticed” it means up to the moment before I mention it?

 

[Tarheel]

@Maybo If I say "I haven't noticed" something the time that's relevant is the time I'm saying it. That's the time that's important.

Post #6 illustrates those usages quite well.

I don't want to confuse anybody -- especially me!

 

[English.channel1991]

Isn’t it that “I haven’t noticed” it means up to the moment that I mention it?
“I hadn’t noticed” it means up to the moment before I mention it?

I guess there is a thin line between these two. but you seem to get it right

 

[emsr2d2]

I guess there is a thin line between these two no full stop here but you seem to get have got it right.

@English.channel1991 Note my corrections above. Your profile says you're an English teacher so you need to make sure your posts are correctly written. Also, you will need to change your username - we don't allow usernames to be adverts for users' websites/YouTube channels. Please post in the Support Area and an admin will help you change it.