said before

[Offroad]

Dear teachers...

the present perfect is tormenting me again... Could you please comment on the correctness of the following sentences (?):

1. As I said before, the car is broken.
2. As I have said before, the car is expensive.
3. As I said previously, the cat is sick.
4. As I have said previously, the dog is heavy.

Considering the fact those facts was said only one time, which ones are grammatically correct?

Many thanks

 

[tedtmc]

The past tense goes with before.

As I said before/previous.
As I have said...

not a teacher

 

[Raymott]

Dear teachers...

the present perfect is tormenting me again... Could you please comment on the correctness of the following sentences (?):

1. As I said before, the car is broken.
2. As I have said before, the car is expensive.
3. As I said previously, the cat is sick.
4. As I have said previously, the dog is heavy.

Considering the fact those facts was said only one time, which ones are grammatically correct?

Many thanks

If they were said only one time, any of the above are correct.

If they've been said more than once, I would use the present perfect - because you aren't referring to a specific time in the past, but several times, none of which are specifically referred to.

I've told you this a thousand times! Correct
* I told you this a thousand times! Not as good.

As I said last week ... (specific time mentioned) -> simple past
As I've said before ... (specific time not mentioned) -> pres. perf.

 

[Barb_D]

I get a different feel for this. If you said these things only ONE time, I would use the simple past.

"As I have said before" definitely implies to me that you've said these things more than once.

 

[Offroad]

I get a different feel for this. If you said these things only ONE time, I would use the simple past.

"As I have said before" definitely implies to me that you've said these things more than once.

Does that work if I don't know when I warned about those statements?

I have mentioned before (can't remember when) that this car would not do 100 mph.
I mentioned before (can't remember when) that this car would not do 100 mph.

Thanks

 

[Barb_D]

Not really - no change. If I see the present perfect, I assume you've said it more than once, in the reasonably recent past. If you said it 100 times but the most recent time you said it was 3 years ago, then simple past would make more sense.

 

[Offroad]

Not really - no change. If I see the present perfect, I assume you've said it more than once, in the reasonably recent past.

I guess in the UK they may have different opinions, at least, about that sentence in particular.

For example:

I have broken my leg. I can't walk now.

However, in such sentences, I agree that the perfect perfect is optional. A matter of fashion, choice!;-)

 

[Offroad]

If they were said only one time, any of the above are correct.

Many thanks.:-D

 

[Barb_D]

I guess in the UK they may have different opinions, at least, about that sentence in particular.

For example:

I have broken my leg. I can't walk now.

However, in such sentences, I agree that the perfect perfect is optional. A matter of fashion, choice!;-)

I would say that too.
I thought we were talking specifically about "as I've said before."