She hasn't failed the test

[EngLearner]

Suppose Bob and Peter know that Sarah is going to take a driving test. They also know that she hasn't prepared well for it, so they expect her to fail. Then she passes the test and tells Bob about it. Bob comes up to Peter and says to him:

1. I've got some news from Sarah. She hasn't failed the test!

2. I've got some news from Sarah. She didn't fail the test!

Which of the above versions should be used in this case?

 

[jutfrank]

It would be natural to talk about this as a past event since the test (and her successful performance in it) is the subject of a continuing discussion.

She passed the test!

 

[EngLearner]

Does this one work?

2A. I've got some news from Sarah. She didn't fail the test. She passed it!

 

[Piscean]

Yes.

 

[EngLearner]

I hope she passed the exam.
I hope she has passed the exam.

In BrE, you can use either, with there being a strong preference for the present perfect if the exam has only recently ended. AmE does not use the present perfect in this situation.

Does anyone agree with the explanation quoted above?

 

[jutfrank]

Who are you quoting?

 

[EngLearner]

Who are you quoting?

I hope she <has> passed

Is there any difference in meaning between the two sentences? Can I use both tenses interchangeably after 'hope' to express the past? 'I hope she passed the exam.' 'I hope she has passed the exam.' Thank you.

forum.wordreference.com

 

[jutfrank]

Don't worry about what some speakers of American English say. Don't worry about how recently the exam has ended.

You have to think about whether the speaker is talking about the present or the past. It's really as simple as that. Are you talking about a past event? Or about a present situation resulting from a past event?

She passed = taking about a past event
She has passed = talking about the situation now