I worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

[sb70012]

1. I have worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.
2. I worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

Hello,

I know that #1 is correct but what if I say Worked? Is #2 correct as well or not?

Thank you.

 

[Raymott]

1. I have worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.
2. I worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

Hello,

I know that #1 is correct but what if I say Worked? Is #2 correct as well or not?

Thank you.

I'd say 2 is wrong. Perhaps others will not agree, but 1 is definitely far preferable to 2.

 

[sb70012]

Thank you. What about?: 3. I had worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

 

[Raymott]

Thank you. What about?: 3. I had worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

No, you can't say that. You could say, after you had started to work again with children, "I had worked with children before, so I knew what to expect in my new job."

 

[sb70012]

Ok thank you. Now it's clear that sentence number 2 is incorrect, I myself have made an estimation but I am not sure whether my estimation is right or not. Would you please be nice enough to comment on my estimation? Thank you.

2. I worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

This is my estimation: In my opinion 2 (worked) is incorrect because simple past is used when we put a specific time. For example:

I worked with children 2 years ago.....
or
I worked with children in 1998......

The word (before) is not a specific time.

Is my estimation right?

 

[emsr2d2]

Ok thank you. Now it's clear that sentence number 2 is incorrect, I myself have made an estimation but I am not sure whether my estimation is right or not. Would you please be nice enough to comment on my estimation? Thank you.

2. I worked with children before, so I know what to expect in my new job.

This is my estimation: In my opinion 2 (worked) is incorrect because simple past is used when we put a specific time. For example:

I worked with children 2 years ago.....
or
I worked with children in 1998......

The word (before) is not a specific time.

Is my estimation right?

Yes.

I have worked with children before so I know what to expect.
I worked with children last year so I know what to expect.
I worked with children for ten years in the 1980s so I know what to expect.
I had worked with children before so I knew what to expect.
I had worked with children for ten years in the 1980s so I knew what to expect.