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Marold Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Did he stay or has he stayed?

"How many times did he stay home the last couple of months?"

How come there is used the past simple instead of present perfect? It is quite apparent for me to use the present perfect.
Or is it an american english or what made the author to use there past simple?

Thank you very much in advance.
  

Top answer

You can use either one. When there is no significant difference in meaning, as in this case, native speakers sometimes just go with their first instincts without thinking much about the choice. Here it's just a matter of whether the speaker feels the matter is something related to the present situation (present perfect) or something separate from the present situation - done and gone (simple past).

— CalifJim

  • You can use either one.
  • When there is no significant difference in meaning, as in this case, native speakers sometimes just go with their first instincts without thinking much about the choice.
  • Here it's just a matter of whether the speaker feels the matter is something related to the present situation (present perfect) or something separate from the present situation - done and gone (simple past).
  • We don't know who said it, in what context, or for what purpose, so the author's reason for his choice is not available for us to know.
  • I don't think it's got anything to do with AmE vs BrE.
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1 Answers
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You can use either one. When there is no significant difference in meaning, as in this case, native speakers sometimes just go with their first instincts without thinking much about the choice.

Here it's just a matter of whether the speaker feels the matter is something related to the present situation (present perfect) or something separate from the present situation - done and gone (si
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