said vs have said

[youngbut]

Hello, everyone!
I have a question about the tense. Could you take a look at the below?


A: I sure I will quit smoking.
B: You ___________ that millions of times before.
(a) say (b) said (c) have said (d) had said


The answer sheet pointed at (c) have said. But I doubt if (b) said is really impossbible here. Is 'have said' is better here than said or is 'said' impossible here?

Many thanks in advance!

 

[Raymott]

Hello, everyone!
I have a question about the tense. Could you take a look at the below?


A: I sure I will quit smoking.
B: You ___________ that millions of times before.
(a) say (b) said (c) have said (d) had said


The answer sheet pointed at (c) have said. But I doubt if (b) said is really impossbible here. Is 'have said' is better here than said or is 'said' impossible here?

Many thanks in advance!

You might hear some Americans using the simple past occasionally. But (c) is correct everywhere. The focus is obviously on the present, on the statement that A made. So the present perfect is correct.

 

[youngbut]

Thank you very much.^^

 

[emsr2d2]

The first statement has a word missing. It should be "I am sure I will quit smoking".