What has been the most unusual present you've given to your friend so far?

[Tony_M]

Greetings.

A: I prefer giving to receiving presents. I really enjoy the process when I need to find an unusual and unique present for a friend of mine.
B: What has been the most unusual present you've given to your friend so far?

Is the last sentence correct?
Is "What has been the most unusual present you gave to your friend so far?" also possible?

Thank you.

 

[emsr2d2]

Greetings. There's no need to address us at all, let alone in such a formal and old-fashioned way! Just go ahead with your post.

A: I prefer giving presents to receiving presents them. I really enjoy the process when I need to find an unusual and unique present for a particular friend. of mine.
B: What has been What's the most unusual present you've given to your a friend? so far?

Is the last sentence correct?

See above.
I've moved "presents" in the first sentence so that it doesn't look like you simply like "giving" (which could mean a lot of things) rather than "giving presents".
I'm not keen on "the process" although it's grammatically correct. I'd say something like "I really enjoy searching for unusual and unique presents for a particular friend". (I assumed you were thinking about one specific friend because B goes on to refer to them as "your friend" (singular).)
You don't need to put the first part of B's question in a past tense. You also don't need "so far". Unless A is a psychic or a time traveller, they can only answer the question based on their life up to right now anyway.

Is "What has been the most unusual present you gave to your friend so far?" also possible?

No.

 

[Tony_M]

No.

Why?

 

[jutfrank]

Is the last sentence correct?

Yes, that's a correct use of the present perfect. Good.

Is "What has been the most unusual present you gave to your friend so far?" also possible?

Possible? What do you mean?

If you're asking whether it's right, or whether it's any good, the answer is no, it isn't.

 

[Tony_M]

If you're asking whether it's right, or whether it's any good, the answer is no, it isn't.

Why?

 

[jutfrank]

You need the present perfect, not the past tense. The verb 'gave' is past tense. That's why.

Think about what 'so far' means.

 

[Tony_M]

You need the present perfect, not the past tense. The verb 'gave' is past tense. That's why.

Think about what 'so far' means.

Why can't 'so far' refer to the first clause containing the present perfect? The second clause is a regular relative clause with the simple past in it.

 

[jutfrank]

The phrase 'so far' marks the time aspect of the sentence. Both clauses should relate to a time period starting in the past and continuing until now.

I can't see how you think it makes sense for each of the two clauses to be about different time frames since they both describe the same event. Would you like to explain that?

 

[Tony_M]

The phrase 'so far' marks the time aspect of the sentence. Both clauses should relate to a time period starting in the past and continuing until now.

I can't see how you think it makes sense for each of the two clauses to be about different time frames since they both describe the same event. Would you like to explain that?

I think it should be something like this:

- I saw a film last year. It was the best film I've ever seen.
- What was the best film you've ever seen?

- I gave my friend a very unusual present last year. It was the most unusual present I've ever given to a friend of mine.
- What was the most unusual present I've ever given to your friend?
I think this one is similar:
- What has been the most unusual present you gave your friend so far?

 

[jutfrank]

If the time frame (the time within which the action is framed) is set by 'so far', you need the present perfect, not the past simple. The verb 'give' denotes the action that you're talking about so put that into the present perfect.

a) What was the most unusual present you've given to your friend so far?

Some people might not have a problem with was in the first part of this sentence, as long as the main action verb 'give' is in the right tense, which it is. Still, the better sentence is this:

b) What has been the most unusual present you've given to your friend so far?

There. Now the tenses match and you have a good sentence.

 

[Tony_M]

If the time frame (the time within which the action is framed) is set by 'so far', you need the present perfect, not the past simple. The verb 'give' denotes the action that you're talking about so put that into the present perfect.

a) What was the most unusual present you've given to your friend so far?

Some people might not have a problem with was in the first part of this sentence, as long as the main action verb 'give' is in the right tense, which it is. Still, the better sentence is this:

b) What has been the most unusual present you've given to your friend so far?

There. Now the tenses match and you have a good sentence.

Jimmy Kimmel Live (ABC, September 29, 2015)

Jimmy: That's funny. Has there ever been a situation where you didn't know your lines before?
Viola: There's been a situation where I have not known my lines, and there's been a (laughs)... the most prominent situation is when I was doing "Doubt" and Meryl Streep kept screwing up one line.

Why does Jimmy need two different tenses here?

 

[jutfrank]

He certainly doesn't!

Some American speakers are resistant to using the present perfect in places where others think it should be used, and apparently Jimmy is one of those. I don't know who Viola is or where she's from, but you can hear she's properly using the present perfect, despite what Jimmy has just asked her.

 

[emsr2d2]

Despite the contents and example sentences in posts #9 and #10, the vast majority of BrE speakers would use "What is" at the start of every one of those questions.

 

[Tarheel]

Roger: What is the best film you've ever seen?
Ron: In a word, Casablanca.