Forget and understand

Hi all,

I am not sure about the usage of "forget" and "understand".

If I am asked by someone that "Do you bring your umbrella with you?" I should answer "Ohh, I forgot" instead of using "I forget". Am I right?

If I am asked "Have you done the homework for me?", I should answer "I understood from Peter that he will do the homework for you", but not "I understand ...", right?

Thanks!

wanka said:

Hi all,

I am not sure about the usage of "forget" and "understand".

If I am asked by someone that "Did you bring your umbrella with you?" I should answer "Ohh, I forgot" instead of using "I forget". Am I right? Yes.

If I am asked "Have you done the homework for me?", I should answer "I understood from Peter that he will do the homework for you", but not "I understand ...", right? "I understood from Peter that he would..." or "I understand from Peter that he will..."

Thanks!

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Bhai.

Thanks for your advice.

However, I do not understand why the present tense "understand" can be used. If Peter told me yesterday that he would do the homework for the guy I am speaking to, then it means I understood from Peter yesterday that he would do the homework for that guy. So why is that I can say I understand from Peter in the present tense? Thanks!

bhaisahab said:

Bhai.

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wanka said:

Thanks for your advice.

However, I do not understand why the present tense "understand" can be used. If Peter told me yesterday that he would do the homework for the guy I am speaking to, then it means I understood from Peter yesterday that he would do the homework for that guy. So why is that I can say I understand from Peter in the present tense? Thanks!

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Yes, but if the homework is not yet done but Peter has told you he will do it, your current understanding is that Peter will do it.

Thank you!

So that means I can say "I understand from Peter yesterday that he will do the homework for you"?

I do not understand why I cannot use "will" in the sentence "I understood from Peter that he will do the homework for you". As I think the word "would" means you are uncertain whether Peter would do the homework or not.

Moreover, can I say "I understand from my brother that he is entitled to your goods"? or should I say "I understood from my brother that he was entitled to your goods"? my difficulty here is my brother was and is entitled to your goods. So what should I say? Thanks!

bhaisahab said:

Yes, but if the homework is not yet done but Peter has told you he will do it, your current understanding is that Peter will do it.

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wanka said:

So that means I can say "I understand from Peter yesterday that he will do the homework for you"?

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That is not very likely, in my opinion. If you are using the word 'yesterday', then you are anchoring your understanding in the past, and are more likely to use 'understood'.

I do not understand why I cannot use "will" in the sentence "I understood from Peter that he will do the homework for you".

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You can but, once again, it is unlikely. If you have anchored your understanding in the past, then you are likely to backshift the verbs reporting the situation understood.

As I think the word "would" means you are uncertain whether Peter would do the homework or not.

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No. 'would' is here simply a backshifted form of 'will'.

Hello,
Could you tell me what are your thoughts when you first read the sentence?
I understood from Peter that he will do the homework for you.
And can you give me one example/situation that the sentence can be used?
Thank!

anhnha said:

Hello,
Could you tell me what are your thoughts when you first read the sentence?
I understood from Peter that he will do the homework for you.
And can you give me one example/situation that the sentence can be used?
Thank!

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My first thoughts with that statement are:

1) Peter gave me the information about your homework at some unspecified point in the past ("I understood").
2) Peter has not yet done your homework ("he will do the homework")

Any view on the following? Thanks!

Moreover, can I say "I understand from my brother that he is entitled to your goods"? or should I say "I understood from my brother that he was entitled to your goods"? my difficulty here is my brother was and is entitled to your goods. So what should I say?

Jiayun said:

Any view on the following? Thanks!

Moreover, can I say "I understand from my brother that he is entitled to your goods"? or should I say "I understood from my brother that he was entitled to your goods"? my difficulty here is my brother was and is entitled to your goods. So what should I say?

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Both are possible.

Is the meaning different？

bhaisahab said:

Both are possible.

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Jiayun said:

Is the meaning different？

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There is no practical difference.

Thanks!

I think I get what you mean. It seems to me that the usage of the word "understand" is a bit tricky when I am describing my understanding from someone in the past. What I get from you is that, so long as it is still my current understanding and the subject matter of my understanding is still true or is going to happen, I can use the present tense "understand" eventhough my understanding happened in the past. Am I right?

So I can say "I understand from my primary school teacher that the Earth is round in shape" but I cannot say "I understand from my primary school teacher that Bush is the president of the U.S", right?

bhaisahab said:

There is no practical difference.

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Jiayun said:

Thanks!

I think I get what you mean. It seems to me that the usage of the word "understand" is a bit tricky when I am describing my understanding from someone in the past. What I get from you is that, so long as it is still my current understanding and the subject matter of my understanding is still true or is going to happen, I can use the present tense "understand" eventhough my understanding happened in the past. Am I right?

So I can say "I understand from my primary school teacher that the Earth is round in shape" but I cannot say "I understand from my primary school teacher that Bush is the president of the U.S", right?

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I cannot say "I understand from my primary school teacher that Bush is the president of the U.S"
Only because Bush is no longer the president. You could say "I understand from my primary school teacher that Bush was the president of the U.S".