Grammar

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I'm sorry if there is topic like this but I want to ask something.Is there some diffrent between those sentenses...I bought a car. I have bought a car.I don't get it. Are they similar or not.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Ivan TemelakievI don't get it. Are they similar or not.

Very similar, but used for different contexts.

I bought a car.
This is the most common. eg. When I was 18, I bought my first car.
I bought a car yesterday.
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I have bought a car. = It is used in a situation with some emotion, when you want to emphasize a very recent purchase.

I have been saving my money for three years. I finally had enough to buy a car. I shopped for a car for three months.
Yesterday, I was successful. I have finally bought a car. At last, I have a car of my own.

Dad to son: Son, I am proud of you. You just graduated, and as a present I have bought a car for you. Here are the keys.

Laborious · Answer

Hi,

There are many threads on the difference between 'past simple' and 'present perfect' on the Forum. You could find them by typing 'simple past or present perfect' into the search box provided by the Forum.

Perhaps the most important difference between them is that we can't mention a specific time in the past with the present perfect tense, whereas with the simple past tense, we can use a specific time in the past. Moreover, using a finished time period with the present perfect tense is considered wrong; however, this is not true with the past simple.

I bought a car yesterday. (the time period 'yesterday' is finished when you are speaking this sentence)
I have bought a car ~~yesterday~~.

I had my breakfast at 9 this morning. (specific time reference)
I have already had my breakfast. (no specific time reference.)

So, when we want to tell when exactly we did something or when it is important for us to mention the time when something happened, we should use 'past simple', not 'present perfect'.

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