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Sesquipedalian101 Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

I met you before/I have met you before

Dear teachers,

I came across a book called "Better Ways with Verbs" by John Platt. In a chapter on "tenses", two characters are in conversation:

Irene: Oh, I met you before.
Peter: Yes, you have met me before. We met last week at Josie's party.

According to the author, "it would have been better for Irene to have said: 'Oh, I've met you before' as she is counting meetings up to the present time.

My question is, as "before" clearly denotes the period of time preceding the present, why can't it be in the simple past tense whether or not the meeting has any relevance to the present.

Thank you very much.

  

Top answer

Irene: Oh, I met you before. I wouldn't say this is wrong, but it sounds a bit odd. Note that the author doesn't say it is wrong.

— Clive

  • Irene: Oh, I met you before.
  • I wouldn't say this is wrong, but it sounds a bit odd.
  • Note that the author doesn't say it is wrong.
  • He says ' "it would have been better for Irene to have said: .
  • " Clive
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1 Answers
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Irene: Oh, I met you before.

I wouldn't say this is wrong, but it sounds a bit odd.

Note that the author doesn't say it is wrong. He says ' "it would have been better for Irene to have said: . . "

Clive

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