I never saw one of those in the net before

[Alexey86]

This is a task from a Russian book on article usage called "The English Articles in Speech Situations" by Volkova E.I..



But my question is not about articles. I'd like to know whether the past simple is the best or the only correct choice in the sentence. There are numerous examples of I've never done this before on the internet. What should I take into account to make the correct/best choice?

Is it important whether this phrase is uttered before, during or after the action/event?

 

[jutfrank]

This is a task from a Russian book on article usage called "The English Articles in Speech Situations" by Volkova E.I..

Uh-oh!

But my question is not about articles.

Whew! Thank God for that.

-D Only joking, of course. I welcome your questions about articles.)

Don't worry about the use of the past simple here. It's unnatural to me too. It's a distinctly American style to use past simple where we'd normally use present perfect.

 

[GoesStation]

It's natural in casual American English.

On the other hand, while I can't say it's entirely wrong, the definite article in your book's title is questionable at best. Or is that your translation of the title? More natural titles would be English Articles in Speech or The English Article in Speech.

If the title is not a translation, it's bad enough to disregard the rest of the book. On the other hand (and sorry for the ad):

 

[Alexey86]

Or is that your translation of the title?

Yes. In the original the Russian noun phrase is in the singular form, and it's absolutely correct like when we say the lion meaning the whole species. But I wasn't sure if that would be correct in English, so I was hesitating between "The English Article.." and "English Articles..." and eventually came to their mix.

 

[GoesStation]

Yes. In the original the Russian noun phrase is in the singular form, and it's absolutely correct like when we say the lion meaning the whole species. But I wasn't sure if that would be correct in English, so I was hesitating between "The English Article.." and "English Articles..." and eventually came to their mix.

Ah. The singular would be better. I don't see what the word "situations" adds, but it has to remain plural.

 

[Alexey86]

I don't see what the word "situations" adds, but it has to remain plural.

It adds nothing in English but sounds better in Russian. Why does "The English Articles" sound so wrong to you? Can't it be used meaning all English articles: a/an, the, zero?

 

[jutfrank]

I'd prefer to call the book the article-free English ArticIes in Speech as there's more than one 'species' of article dealt with.

I was assured that this thread was not to do with articles, and now we're discussing the use of the article in the title of a book about articles!


(Nice song, by the way, GS. You certainly can't judge a book by its hair during lockdown.)

 

[Alexey86]

I was assured that this thread was not to do with articles, and now we're discussing the use of the article in the title of a book about articles!

Guilty.

 

[jutfrank]

Don't worry, I'll blame GoesStation this time.

So what's the given answer for the sentence in the cartoon? the or a? It isn't clear to me.


Edit: Oh, I've just noticed you've used the in the thread title. Okay.

 

[Alexey86]

Don't worry, I'll blame GoesStation this time.

So what's the given answer for the sentence in the cartoon? the or a? It isn't clear to me.

Either of them can be used depending on whether the man is speaking generally or referring to that particular net.

 

[GoesStation]

On the other hand (and sorry for the ad):

It may not be clear to learners that this song is a satire on American anti-drug propaganda of the seventies. The lyrics contain many topical references that might be unclear to modern American listeners, much less learners, so feel free to ask about them, preferably in a new thread.

 

[Alexey86]

I have a question for AmE native speakers. Can you think of any additional circumstance that would force you to use the present perfect? For example, the man on the right is angry, "This is a third fisherman that has been caught in our nets recently. Why haven't you take any measures yet?" - "But I've never seen one of those in the net before."

 

[Alexey86]

I'm still hoping to get replies from AmE native speakers.

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

I have a question for AmE native speakers. Can you think of any additional circumstance that would force you to use the present perfect? For example, the man on the right is angry and says, "This is the third fishing boat that has been caught in our nets recently. Why haven't you take any measures yet?" - "Because I've never seen one of those in the net before."

Your tenses in that dialogue are correct in American English. And yes, I can think of countless circumstances in which they can be used.

 

[Alexey86]

Your tenses in that dialogue are correct in American English. And yes, I can think of countless circumstances in which they can be used.

The question is whether you would prefer the present perfect in my example.