Confused

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I haven't thought about her for a while. (and I'm not going to bother myself with that right now)
I hadn't thought about her for a while. (but now I'm thinking about her, that's why I'm using Past Perfect)

Am I thinking correctly?

"Thanks a lot! You've all been very helpful and your explanations have been perfectly clear!"

What's the point of using Present Perfect here?

"Thanks a lot! You've all been very helpful and your explanations were perfectly clear! - This one sounds better to me, although I'm not sure which one is correct and why.

Teechr · Accepted Answer

mskzieilinski I haven't thought about her for a while. (and I'm not going to bother myself with that right now)I hadn't thought about her for a while. (but now I'm thinking about her, that's why I'm using Past Perfect)Am I thinking correctly?

No. The present perfect refers to the past, right up to (but not necessarily including) the present.
I haven't thought about her for a while. [ I may/may not be thinking about her now. ]

The past perfect is used to show that one action took place before another past action.
I hadn't thought about her for a while, so when I bumped into her in the library last week, I couldn't remember her name.

David Hatton · Answer

mskzieilinskiI hadn't thought about her for a while. (but now I'm thinking about her, that's why I'm using Past Perfect)

It could indicate a change in how you're thinking - looking at it as a thing which was completed in the past (p.p) could mean that you're no longer 'not thinking of her' and are, indeed, thinking about her again. The action has been completed in the past and what's happening now is not disclosed.

mskzieilinski"Thanks a lot! You've all been very helpful and your explanations have been perfectly clear!"

You are referring here to a series of explanations which are still relevant. The process is ongoing as you are considering it in the present perfect but the explanations have already been made.

mskzieilinski"Thanks a lot! You've all been very helpful and your explanations were perfectly clear! - This one sounds better to me, although I'm not sure which one is correct and why.

This is subtly different. The question was asked, the explanations given and the subject is now closed. However, given that you used the present perfect progressive tense earlier in the sentence it would make sense for me to retain the same tense later in it.

Mskzieilinski · Answer

I get it but let's imagine a different situation:

Mike: Do you remember to help Amanda with her homework?
John: Oh, I hadn't thought about that. (until you told me)

In this particular case it's legitimate to use Past Perfect, am I right?

Teechr · Answer

mskzieilinskiMike: Do Did you remember to help Amanda with her homework?

mskzieilinskiJohn: Oh, I hadn't thought about that.

This could work if, e.g., she already handed in the homework. Otherwise, the past simple will do.

Mskzieilinski · Answer

In my imagined situation, she hasn't started to do her homework yet, and Mike is reminding John to remember about that. So I guess it should be:

Mike: Do you remember to help Amanda with her homework?

The question is - could John answer Mike by saying: Oh, I hadn't thought about that (before you told me to). Thanks for reminding me! or Oh, I had totally forgotten about that (before you reminded me to remember about that) or maybe John should use Present Perfect since there is a connection to the present? I've forgotten to do that. (I should've helped her earlier in the day but I've forgotten to do that so the homework isn't done yet)

I know that it sounds somehow unnatural and probably better answer would be: Oh, I totally forgot about that.
I just want to know if theoretically using Past Perfect or Present Perfect in this case would make any sense.

If I change the situation a little bit:

Mike: Do you remember that you've promised Amanda to help her with her homework this morning?
John: Oh, I've forgotten about that.

In this situation using Present Perfect is the best option?

Mike: Do you remember that you HAD promised Amanda to help her with her homework YESTERDAY? - in this case using Past Perfect makes more sense? (I had promised her but I had forgotten to do that so she did her homework alone).

I'm sorry that I'm asking so many questions but I want to finally understand the differences between the Present/Past Perfect and Past Simple. In my native language there are no such tenses that's why I always find it tricky to choose between them.

Regards

CalifJim · Answer

mskzieilinskiI hadn't thought about that.

Here's a typical legitimate use of that past perfect phrase.

— We're supposed to meet Mike at 3:30. He's bringing the books we'll need for the project.
— But you know him. He's always forgetting things. What if he forgets to bring the books?
— I hadn't thought about that. I'll call him and remind him around 3:00.

Of all the eventualities that could occur and which I had considered, I had not considered this one. The phrase is used when a new idea is presented which had not been considered until someone mentioned it.

CJ

Teechr · Answer

mskzieilinskiIn my imagined situation, she hasn't started to do her homework yet, and Mike is reminding John ~~to remember~~ about that. So I guess it should be:

mskzieilinskiMike: Do Have you remembered to help Amanda with her homework?

or simply

mskzieilinskiMike: Do Have you ~~remember to~~ helped Amanda with her homework?

mskzieilinskiThe question is - could John answer Mike by saying: Oh, I hadn't thought about that (before you told me to). Thanks for reminding me! or Oh, I had totally forgotten about that (before you reminded me to remember about that) or maybe John should use Present Perfect since there is a connection to the present? I've forgotten to do that. (I should've helped her earlier in the day but I've forgotten to do that so the homework isn't done yet)

No.
John: No I haven't, actually!

Fivejedjon · Answer

mskzieilinskiMike: Do you remember to help Amanda with her homework?

That question does not work - teechr corrected it.

You can ask:

Did you remember to help Amanda ...? = Did you help her?
Do you remember that you promised to help Amanda ...? = Are you going to help her?

Mskzieilinski · Answer

Thank you all for your help! I have one last question to ask.

Do you remember to revise before the exam?

This is an example taken from my English book. I find it pretty similar to my question: Do you remember to help Amanda with her homework? Why then my question is not correct? What's the difference?

Fivejedjon · Answer

mskzieilinskiDo you remember to revise before the exam?

I can't offhand think of a context in which that would be natural.

You say it's an example. What is it an example of?

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