[Grammar] Present Perfect or Present Simple

[Enchanter]

Consider this sentence please:

_________________ (you, start) working just 8 minutes ago?

1) Did you start
2) Have you started

I'm not a native speaker but I would say in AmE only 1 is natural while in BrE both are correct because, even though 8 minutes ago is an exact point-in-time expression, which normally requires past simple, the word just makes it somewhat connected with the present and the context also implies the activity is still in progress, so again connected with the present and a reason to use present perfect.

Am I thinking right? Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

"Have you started working" doesn't work in BrE because of the use of "just 8 minutes ago" at the end.

Did you start working just/only eight minutes ago? :tick:
Have you started working just/only eight minutes ago? :cross:

 

[Enchanter]

So if just modifies the verb, present perfect is correct?

If so, what would the word order be? Thanks.

 

[Enchanter]

Yes. Have you just started working?

Yes, but I meant if used together with 8 minutes ago.

Have you just started working 8 minutes ago? Correct?

 

[jutfrank]

The problem for me here is that not even the 'more correct' past simple sentence sounds very natural. I'm struggling to find the meaning. Who might say this to whom, and to what effect?

If there's a sense of surprise, or perhaps anger, then you could say

Did you only just start (working) eight minutes ago?

 

[Enchanter]

The problem for me here is that not even the 'more correct' past simple sentence sounds very natural. I'm struggling to find the meaning. Who might say this to whom, and to what effect?

If there's a sense of surprise, or perhaps anger, then you could say

Did you only just start (working) eight minutes ago?

So even if just modifies the verb, present perfect is incorrect when used with the ago expression?

 

[jutfrank]

So even if just modifies the verb, present perfect is incorrect when used with the ago expression?

Well, it doesn't sound too bad to me. It sounds like something that someone could say so I'm reluctant to call it incorrect just yet. Could you say what the question actually means to you? Why the need for the time phrase?

 

[Enchanter]

Well, it doesn't sound too bad to me. It sounds like something that someone could say so I'm reluctant to call it incorrect just yet. Could you say what the question actually means to you? Why the need for the time phrase?

The question was meant to be more general. I wasn't asking about that specific phrase, really. Rather about the underlying rules. Let me rephrase my question:

Is it possible in BrE to use present perfect in a natural sentence that is set in time by an ago expression? (Apart from something with since, e.g. I haven't been to that city since two years ago.)

 

[jutfrank]

The question was meant to be more general. I wasn't asking about that specific phrase, really. Rather about the underlying rules. Let me rephrase my question:

Is it possible in BrE to use present perfect in a natural sentence that is set in time by an ago expression?

Is it usual? By no means. It is possible? Maybe, but I'm just trying to be charitable here. In any case, it's a good idea to say that as a rule, we don't do it.

 

[jutfrank]

Is it possible in BrE to use present perfect in a natural sentence that is set in time by an ago expression? (Apart from something with since, e.g. I haven't been to that city since two years ago.)

I don't know how it was possible that I missed your example here. (Maybe you've added it since my last post.)

Yes, this is exactly the kind of structure that I was considering as an example. Although I wouldn't want to say that it's incorrect, it's much, much more natural to say ...for two years.