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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
decided!!!
Hi,
should I say
I decided to sell my old car, or
I've decided to sell my old car.
Ok, I know it depends on context, but I'm thinking of its present use, not when you are talking about a fact in the past. Example:
Good news! I ('ve) decided to sell my car.
So you think I'd better sell it, right? Hmm... well, you know what? I ('ve) decided to sell it!
I think that the present perfect is better, but I'm not sure. You could say it's better because you just decided, but that's not true, since in AmE you say "I just decided" or "Ouch, I bumped my head!"
Any advice? Thank you
should I say
I decided to sell my old car, or
I've decided to sell my old car.
Ok, I know it depends on context, but I'm thinking of its present use, not when you are talking about a fact in the past. Example:
Good news! I ('ve) decided to sell my car.
So you think I'd better sell it, right? Hmm... well, you know what? I ('ve) decided to sell it!
I think that the present perfect is better, but I'm not sure. You could say it's better because you just decided, but that's not true, since in AmE you say "I just decided" or "Ouch, I bumped my head!"
Any advice? Thank you
Top answer
You can say either but the present perfect tells so much more in a zero context sentence such as this. With the simple past all we know is at some time in the past you decided to sell your car. With the present perfect we know you haven't yet sold it.
- You can say either but the present perfect tells so much more in a zero context sentence such as this.
- With the simple past all we know is at some time in the past you decided to sell your car.
- With the present perfect we know you haven't yet sold it.
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2 Answers
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You can say either but the present perfect tells so much more in a zero context sentence such as this. With the simple past all we know is at some time in the past you decided to sell your car. With the present perfect we know you haven't yet sold it.
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Sorry, this is a duplicate thread.
Thanks, I see. But that's a British point of viewm isn't it? I know there could be differences when past tenses are invloved...
Thanks, I see. But that's a British point of viewm isn't it? I know there could be differences when past tenses are invloved...
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