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ChimeraX Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Just another tense question
I think I've already developed a good enough 'ear' for english (obviously not a native speaker).However, I still find myself puzzled by the usage of present perfect in some certain contexts.To be honest, I imagined some situation/conversations and I noticed that I couldn't tell which tense should be used.
The exemples:
(Teacher talking to students) Have I tought you [this or that]?/Did I thought you?
What have you written on the board?/*What did you write on the board?
*I thought you had (already) left./I thought you left/have left.
Both movies were directed by the same person./*Both movies have been directed by the same person.
Both songs were featured in those video games./*Both songs have been featured in those video games.
(shortly after a person meets another one and start to talk about recent events) *Has he told you about that?/Did he tell you about that?
One last thing,
Which is the right way of saying the sentence below:
He won't/isn't going to get anywhere if he keeps on doing these things.
I marked with * the sentences that I think they are correct.
Thanks alot.If I made any mistakes, any kind of mistakes in the sentences I've written above, please tell me.Thanks again.
The exemples:
(Teacher talking to students) Have I tought you [this or that]?/Did I thought you?
What have you written on the board?/*What did you write on the board?
*I thought you had (already) left./I thought you left/have left.
Both movies were directed by the same person./*Both movies have been directed by the same person.
Both songs were featured in those video games./*Both songs have been featured in those video games.
(shortly after a person meets another one and start to talk about recent events) *Has he told you about that?/Did he tell you about that?
One last thing,
Which is the right way of saying the sentence below:
He won't/isn't going to get anywhere if he keeps on doing these things.
I marked with * the sentences that I think they are correct.
Thanks alot.If I made any mistakes, any kind of mistakes in the sentences I've written above, please tell me.Thanks again.
Top answer
Hello, ChimeraX-- and welcome to English Forums. I have read carefully through all your example sentences, and I can tell you confidently that they are all common and that there is not no significant difference in the meanings within any of the sentence pairs. The choice is more individual habit than any nuance that might adhere.
- Hello, ChimeraX-- and welcome to English Forums.
- I have read carefully through all your example sentences, and I can tell you confidently that they are all common and that there is not no significant difference in the meanings within any of the sentence pairs.
- The choice is more individual habit than any nuance that might adhere.
- This problem (in these examples) is not worth a second thought.
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6 Answers
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Hello, ChimeraX-- and welcome to English Forums.
I have read carefully through all your example sentences, and I can tell you confidently that they are all common and that there is not no significant difference in the meanings within any of the sentence pairs. The choice is more individual habit than any nuance that might adhere. This problem (in these examples) is not worth a second t
I have read carefully through all your example sentences, and I can tell you confidently that they are all common and that there is not no significant difference in the meanings within any of the sentence pairs. The choice is more individual habit than any nuance that might adhere. This problem (in these examples) is not worth a second t
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Thanks.I've been worrying about my english skills these days.Your post has managed to make me feel more confident.
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ChimeraXI marked with * the sentences that I think they are correct.I don't think this is a good idea. It could lead to a lot of confusion because the standard practice in linguistics is to mark ungrammatical sentences with an asterisk.
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Some small corrections underlined:
(Teacher talking to students) Have I taught you [this or that]?/Did I teach you [this or that]?
What have you written on the board?/*What did you write on the board?
*I thought you had (already) left./I thought you left/had left.
Both movies were directed by the same person./*Both movies
(Teacher talking to students) Have I taught you [this or that]?/Did I teach you [this or that]?
What have you written on the board?/*What did you write on the board?
*I thought you had (already) left./I thought you left/had left.
Both movies were directed by the same person./*Both movies
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Thanks for your replies.
Could you clear this for me? Again...
Sorry, I know this is probably another useless question about quirks.
(right after answering the phone) Why did you call me?/Why have you called me?
Have you received the message?/Did you receive the message?
(speaking of a present situation) I haven't learned/didn't learn the lesson because I didn't have/
Could you clear this for me? Again...
Sorry, I know this is probably another useless question about quirks.
(right after answering the phone) Why did you call me?/Why have you called me?
Have you received the message?/Did you receive the message?
(speaking of a present situation) I haven't learned/didn't learn the lesson because I didn't have/
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ChimeraXThanks for your replies.Could you clear this for me? Again...Sorry, I know this is probably another useless question about quirks.(right after answering the phone) Why did you call me [yesterday]
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