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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

INterview

You’ve also worked a lot with Jackie Chan, and I know that he’s a big hero of yours. How has working with those people influenced your career?

Answer:

I learned a great deal from them. I mean, I practiced martial arts my whole life. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can do martial-arts movies.

or

I've learned a great deal from them. I mean, I've practiced martial arts my whole life. That doesn’t necessarily mean that you can do martial-arts movies.

Which is the better asnwer? The one using present perfect or simple past? And how does it affect the meaning of the answer? Thanks!
  

Top answer

You can only use the first one if the interviewee is dead.

— Mister Micawber

  • You can only use the first one if the interviewee is dead.
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6 Answers
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You can only use the first one if the interviewee is dead.
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Mister MicawberYou can only use the first one if the interviewee is dead.
Why is that? Can you further explain your answer? Why can't the simple past tense be used here? The two answers were both given by the interviewee, so he's apparently still alive. Thanks!
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PreciousJonesI learned a great deal from them. ... I've learned a great deal from them.
I think you are agonizing needlessly over this. I don't sense much difference.

Just remember the basic fact about this distinction between these tenses. "I learned" is focused on the story of what happened. "I've learned" is focused on a result that occurred an
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CalifJim PreciousJonesI learned a great deal from them. ... I've learned a great deal from them.I think you are agonizing needlessly over this. I don't sense much difference. Just remember the basic fact about this distinction between these tenses. "I learned" is focused on the story of what happened. "I've learned" is focused on a result that occurred and which still exi
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PreciousJonesSo why did MM say that the 1st sentence can only be used if the interviewee is dead?
You'll have to ask him. He must have meant to say something different because obviously we don't interview dead people.

CJ
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I practiced martial arts my whole life.— This to me says that the practice is well in the past, that it has no connection to him now: his life is over; he will practice martial arts no more; he is an ex-martial-artist.
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