More than what you are supposed to.

[david11]

Hello teachers,

I traveled in a bus. I gave 10$( our currency is rupee, just for your convenience) to get 6$ ticket.He returned 5$.Can I say the below sentence?

You gave me more change than you are supposed to.

I just don't want to mention the numbers.

Thank you.

 

[TheParser]

You gave me more change than you are suppose to.


NOT A TEACHER


Excuse me, sir/ ma'am, but you gave me too much change.

 

[Raymott]

Excuse me, sir/ ma'am, but you gave me too much change.

I would say that in BrE/AusE, it would be more common to say, "... you've given me too much change."
The action [has] only just occurred, and something must be done in the present (or future) to amend it.
If I waited until I was getting off the bus, or even the next day (if I had a restless night of guilt for having accepted 5 cents too much), I'd say, "... you gave me too much change yesterday."

 

[TheParser]

I would say that in BrE/AusE, it would be more common to say, "... you've given me too much change."


Yes, absolutely. In perfect American English, too. Thank you for the correction.

 

[Barb_D]

This is one of those times that Americans do use the simple past over the present perfect, I think. While the present perfect is alive and well, I'm pretty sure I'd say "you gave me" in this case. I'm not sure why, since it certainly merits the present perfect, having just happened and related to the current situation.

 

[emsr2d2]

This is one of those times that Americans do use the simple past over the present perfect, I think. While the present perfect is alive and well, I'm pretty sure I'd say "you gave me" in this case. I'm not sure why, since it certainly merits the present perfect, having just happened and related to the current situation.

I agree. Even if it had happened just a few seconds ago, if I were still standing by the bus driver with the money in my hand, I would say "You gave me too much change."
The present perfect is absolutely fine, of course, but I would just use the past simple myself.

 

[david11]

Thank you for your replies.

May I take that my sentence is not incorrect but not natural?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for your replies.

May I take that my sentence is not incorrect but not natural?

If you are talking about your original sentence - "You gave me more change than you are supposed to", I have one piece of advice:

The tenses should match: You gave me more change than you were supposed to.

 

[Barb_D]

And I think it's lovely that we are debating the grammar instead of saying "Cool! Extra money!" and shoving it our pocket and thanking our good fortune. It's nice to see ethics trumping greed.

 

[david11]

The tenses should match: You gave me more change than you were supposed to.

Yes ma'am. I didn't notice it.

So,Can I take it as correct?

 

[david11]

And I think it's lovely that we are debating the grammar instead of saying "Cool! Extra money!" and shoving it our pocket and thanking our good fortune. It's nice to see ethics trumping greed.

Oh! Thank you.

I really did it today.:smilecol:

 

[Winwin2011]

I've learned a lot from the teachers here. However, I'd like to learn some more.

1) Is it natural to say 'The change should be $4, not $5'?
2) Is it natural to say 'You gave me more change for $1 than you were supposed to.
3) How can we make it simple for the difference of "$1'?

Thank you.

 

[Barb_D]

What's natural will vary from person to person. I would hand the person back one of the dollars and say "You gave me too much" or "You gave me an extra dollar" or maybe "You gave me a dollar too much."

 

[Raymott]

I've learned a lot from the teachers here. However, I'd like to learn some more.

1) Is it natural to say 'The change should be $4, not $5'? No
2) Is it natural to say 'You gave me more change for $1 than you were supposed to. No
3) How can we make it simple for the difference of "$1'?

Thank you.

Use one of the phrases suggested above, give him back the dollar, and go and sit down.
He's a busy bus-driver. He probably doesn't care.
If he gave you not enough change, it might be more complicated; but remember, he also has a say in how the dialogue goes.