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Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Didn't

If someone asks me "Did you talk to her?" should I answer with "I haven't" if I still haven't talked to her? Is that bad becase I wouldn't answer in the same tense the question was asked?
  

Top answer

whatchadoin If someone asks me " Did you talk to her? " In my opinion, it's bad. I think they do it out of embarrassment, when they've been negligent, thinking "I haven't" is a milder answer, somehow screening their guilt.

— Avangi

  • whatchadoin If someone asks me " Did you talk to her?
  • " In my opinion, it's bad.
  • I think they do it out of embarrassment, when they've been negligent, thinking "I haven't" is a milder answer, somehow screening their guilt.
  • " I've heard educated people say simply, "Did not," apologetically.
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16 Answers
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whatchadoinIf someone asks me "Did you talk to her?" should I answer with "I haven't"
Many native speakers would answer with "I haven't." In my opinion, it's bad. I think they do it out of embarrassment, when they've been negligent, thinking "I haven't" is a milder answer, somehow screening their guilt.

The answer to the question is "No."; or
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whatchadoinIf someone asks me: "Did you talk to her?" should I answer with "I haven't" if I still haven't talked to her? Is that bad becase I wouldn't answer in the same tense the question was asked?
Traditionally and grammatically, we should
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Is the following considered correct?
"I've bought a pair of shoes."
"Where did you buy them?"
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Mark CallanIs the following considered correct?
Mark Callan"I've bought a pair of shoes."
Mark Callan"Where did you buy them?"
Yes, these sentences are fine.
"I've bought etc." is a bit more formal than "I bought etc."
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Mark CallanIs the following considered correct?"I've bought a pair of shoes.""Where did you buy them?"
Yes. That particular change of tenses is very common. In a way, it goes from general to specific. The first sentence just says that I now have the shoes. The follow-up question asks for the details.

Similarly,

I've visited China.
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CalifJimI've visited China.Did you like it?
Is it totally unnatural and uncommon to ask "Have you liked it?"?
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whatchadoinIs it totally unnatural and uncommon to ask "Have you liked it?"?
Yes, I'd say so! (It sounds comical to me, actually.)

CJ
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So, if I knew that someone intended to do something in the past, should I ask "Did you do it?" or "Have you done it?"?
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whatchadoinSo, if I knew that someone intended to do something in the past, should I ask "Did you do it?" or "Have you done it?"?
It sounds like a case of "Have you done it?" because it sounds like you have been waiting for them to do it and you're asking them for a sort of progress report. To my ear, "Have you done it?" sounds very close to "Have you done it
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Do native speakers use both versions?
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