Happened vs. has happened

Question

I wonder what happened to saying "sorry" if you have inconvenienced someone.I wonder what has happened to saying "sorry" if you have inconvenienced someone.What is the difference between the sentences above?Does the speaker in the first sentence think of a specific past event that happened?Does the speaker in the second sentence probably think of the event happening nowadays?Which is more natural?Please explain.  I would appreciate it.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI wonder what happened to saying "sorry" if you have inconvenienced someone.
I wonder what has happened to saying "sorry" if you have inconvenienced someone.

What is the difference between the sentences above?
Does the speaker in the first sentence think of a specific past event that happened?
Does the speaker in the second sentence probably think of the event happening nowadays?
Which is more natural?

There is barely any difference. Your questions indicate that you are on the right track in explaining what very small difference there is.

In the first sentence the speaker is thinking of a past event that occurred at a definite moment in past time.

In the second sentence the speaker is thinking of a past event the exact timing of whose occurrence is unimportant, but believes the effects of that event are important in the present situation, thus linking the past with the present.

Both are equally natural to my ear. I would probably use the second with the contracted forms what's and you've.

I wonder what's happened ... if you've ....

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I really appreciate your response. Thank you.
I can see now the difference with the contracted forms better.

I've come up with another example below. If you could, please advise on this, as well.

A. I made it!
B. I've made it!

1. Like you've explained previously, in A, the speaker is thinking of something he did at a definite moment in past time; whereas in B, the speaker is thinking of something he did and believes it has importance in the present situation. Please confirm.

2. Based on other threads I read, - although I'm not sure if the same idea applies to these examples - can I think of sentence A as a narrative of what occurred to the speaker at a definite past time?

3. On the other hand, can I think of sentence B as the speaker's assessment of the current situation?

4. Suppose someone took an exam a week ago and he receives a letter today saying he has successfully passed the exam, which is he more naturally and likely to say to his surprise? Is it A because the making of passing the exam happened a week ago? Or is it B because he considers the passing of the exam important to the present situation?

5. Incidentally, which of the following is more likely written on the letter?
You successfully passed the exam.
You've successfully passed the exam.

I would really appreciate your kind assistance.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous1. Like you've explained previously, in A, the speaker is thinking of something he did at a definite moment in past time; whereas in B, the speaker is thinking of something he did and believes it has importance in the present situation. Please confirm.

Yes, I can confirm that.

Anonymous2. Based on other threads I read, - although I'm not sure if the same idea applies to these examples - can I think of sentence A as a narrative of what occurred to the speaker at a definite past time?

Yes, you can.

Anonymous3. On the other hand, can I think of sentence B as the speaker's assessment of the current situation?

Correct.

Anonymous4. Suppose someone took an exam a week ago and he receives a letter today saying he has successfully passed the exam, which is he more naturally and likely to say to his surprise? Is it A because the making of passing the exam happened a week ago? Or is it B because he considers the passing of the exam important to the present situation?

I'd say A, but I have no privileged access to the speaker's mind, so I don't know what he would be thinking at the time. Both are natural. Each is uttered according to how the speaker himself is conceptualizing the situation at the moment he formulates his thoughts and utters the words.

Anonymous5. Incidentally, which of the following is more likely written on the letter?
You successfully passed the exam.
You've successfully passed the exam.

I'd say the second. The receiver of the letter, understandably, wants to know how he stands at the present moment with regard to the exam taken earlier.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, again, for your confirmation and explanataion.

CalifJim
Anonymous4. Suppose someone took an exam a week ago and he receives a letter today saying he has successfully passed the exam, which is he more naturally and likely to say to his surprise? Is it A because the making of passing the exam happened a week ago? Or is it B because he considers the passing of the exam important to the present situation?
I'd say A, but I have no privileged access to the speaker's mind, so I don't know what he would be thinking at the time.

Did you choose A with the same reason I had?

I was thinking of a context where the present perfect would be more appropriate and I came up with the following: Suppose someone took an exam a week ago, and this was the third time he took it. He receives a letter today saying he has successfully passed the exam, would you choose the present perfect over the simple past in this case because of its relevance to the present situation that at the moment of speaking, he is now successful in the exam?

At last, I made it this time.

At last, I've made it this time.

If my context above is still not OK, could you please give a context where "I've made it", would be the more appropriate choice?

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,

If you could, please help me with my last post. Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,

I'm sorry to bother you, but I was wondering if you could comment on my last post, please. I really want to understand this.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousDid you choose A with the same reason I had?

As I understand it, you said you chose A (I made it.) because it happened a week ago. The amount of time that has passed seems irrelevant here, so no, I didn't choose A for the same reason that you did. I chose A because it seemed more natural to me in that situation to tell the story of what happened rather than to comment on how things stand with me at this moment. More on this below.

AnonymousI was thinking of a context where the present perfect would be more appropriate and I came up with the following: Suppose someone took an exam a week ago, and this was the third time he took it. He receives a letter today saying he has successfully passed the exam, would you choose the present perfect over the simple past in this case because of its relevance to the present situation that at the moment of speaking, he is now successful in the exam?
At last, I made it this time.
At last, I've made it this time.

I would still choose the first. I can't think of any context where I would use I've made it. It's a statement of a singular personal success, and it seems to me that such statements rarely go into the present perfect. People say I did it! I made it! I won! when expressing their joy and/or surprise at achieving some goal. The present perfect puts too much emotional distance between what happened and the words used to express it, making the present perfect statement too clinical to be appropriate for this kind of situation. (Just my opinion.)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

I see the simple past in this case shows more emotion than the present perfect about what happened or what was achieved, and would seem more natural.

This makes perfect sense to me now. Thank you very much, once again, for your helpful explanation.

Happened vs. has happened

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