0
Liton Das Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Grammar

I haven't done anything.

I didn't do anything.

Please explain the difference between this two sentences and when to use it.

  

Top answer

) The second sentence refers only to the past (PAST SIMPLE ), NO REFERENCE to the PRESENT MOMENT: I didn't do anything (yesterday, 10 years ago, last week, etc. ) You want to underline only your past actions or their absence in the past In other words you're interested only in the fact that took place in the PAST. And this fact is interesting for the HISTORY, not for the PRESENT MOMENT.

— Olive bee

  • ) The second sentence refers only to the past (PAST SIMPLE ), NO REFERENCE to the PRESENT MOMENT: I didn't do anything (yesterday, 10 years ago, last week, etc.
  • ) You want to underline only your past actions or their absence in the past In other words you're interested only in the fact that took place in the PAST.
  • And this fact is interesting for the HISTORY, not for the PRESENT MOMENT.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

3 Answers
0

Liton Das, your first sentence refers to the present moment directly (PRESENT PERFECT), it is closely connected to it : I haven't done anything (so I'm innocent, I'm not to be blamed, I don't feel any fault now etc.)

The second sentence refers only to the past (PAST SIMPLE ), NO REFERENCE to the PRESENT MOMENT: I didn't do anything (yesterday, 10 years ago, last week, etc. ) You want to

0
0

You are to use Present Perfect when you want to connect your recent actions with the present moment. "I haven't done anything So, I'm not to be blamed (for the broken vase, for example) It is only the matter of the reference to the present moment. You just want to connect recent actions (or their absence) with the PRESENT MOMENT. This is all. E.g.: I have bought a new costume. (You don't sa

0
0

When you put "I made (by the way, "made" is more preferable in comparison with "do') a mistake" you mean only your past mistake that took place in the past, for example, yesterday (E.g.: I said a lie yesterday. I made a great mistake during writing a dictation last lesson! ). When you say 'I had made a mistake" you use PAST PERFECT. It requires a context. In this case you mean, that you had d

0

Related Questions