I checked this morning. She <hasn't> vs <hadn't> turned up at her dorm room.

Status
Not open for further replies.

Tony_M

Member
Joined
Sep 17, 2024
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Ukrainian
Home Country
Ukraine
Current Location
Ukraine
Person of Interest, Season 4, Episode 2.

Finch:
Claire wasn’t just being drawn into a game.
Reese: She was being used to get hold of a file only a human agent could access. All to take down Silverpool.
Finch: And eliminate a potential rival. Not that Claire was ever going to question her mission.
Reese: I checked this morning. She hasn't turned up at her dorm room, or any of her classes.

Why does Reese use the simple past together with the present perfect?

He checked in the morning, but she didn’t turn up before that. -> “I checked this morning. She hadn’t turned up at her dorm room.”
 
I checked this morning. She hasn't turned up at her dorm room, or any of her classes.“
The speaker is reporting the situation at the time of speaking.
I checked this morning. She hadn’t turned up at her dorm room.”
The speaker is reporting the situation at the time of checking.
 
The speaker is reporting the situation at the time of speaking.

The speaker is reporting the situation at the time of checking.
That's cryptic.
 
In all possible ways.
What exactly don't you understand about 5jj's explanation? What exactly is "cryptic" about it?
 
What exactly don't you understand about 5jj's explanation?
It doesn't really explain anything. At the time of speaking and checking? What are those supposed to mean? If someone is reporting a situation at the time of checking, they need to use the past perfect? What?
 
The lines before the last one are irrelevant to the context.
Was Claire missing on the day of reporting only, or for several days up to that moment?
 
It doesn't really explain anything. At the time of speaking and checking? What are those supposed to mean? If someone is reporting a situation at the time of checking, they need to use the past perfect? What?

You might not have understood the explanation, but that doesn't make it cryptic.

'Checking' refers to checking her room - a completed event in the past. Hence the simple past.
'Speaking 'refers to discussing the continued absence from the past until the moment of speaking. Hence the perfect.

This post is getting a little confrontational and rude. Since the question has been answered, I'm closing the thread.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

(Requires Registration)
Back
Top