Have or did

[tufguy]

Hi guys,

After meeting somebody after a long time we say "I haven't seen you for a long time" can't we say "I didn't see you" because the person has already met that guy.

 

[BobK]

In Br Eng you only say 'I didn't see you...' if there's a specific time expression: 'I didn't see you last week. Where were you?'

In Am Eng I suspect the situation's different, but I'll leave that to the experts. ;-)

b

 

[riquecohen]

In AmE, "I haven't seen you for a long time" is correct; "I didn't see you for a long time" is incorrect

 

[lotus888]

Informally, we say "Long time no see."



--lotus

 

[probus]

Informally, we say "Long time no see."

--lotus

Indeed we do.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Really informally, we say "Where you been hiding?"