Just arrived vs. have just arrived

Question

Hi~ I'm an EFL learner.I'm studying English tense and aspect.and I know simple past tense and perfect present tense are different.for example, we can think1.I didn't see him for a long time.2.I haven't seen him for a long time.first one would make sense in reference to a previously mentioned past event or time(e.g., I saw him at your wedding in 1994, and then I didn't see him for a long time)and the second one might appear as an answer to the question Have you seen him lately?but I can't explain these sentences in a way I tell you above.1.The plane just arrived.2.The plane has just arrived.What situation can you think of at these sentences??plz tell me the situation or context with detailed examples.Have a nice day~ AND I love this site and people here.

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

parading
1.The plane just arrived.

2.The plane has just arrived.

There's effectively no difference in meaning between the two. The word "just" makes it clear that the thing happened recently and is still of present interest, irrespective of whether the simple past or present perfect is used. Similarly, for example:

"I just saw him."

"I've just seen him."

CalifJim · Answer

paradingbut I can't explain these sentences in a way I tell you above.

1.The plane just arrived.

2.The plane has just arrived.

I think that's because of the word just. It makes the action of arrival something that happened very recently, regardless of the tense.

It's as if you had a picture with reds and greens, and you covered your picture with black paint, and then tried to find where the reds and greens were. You have sentences with differences -- you have "reds and greens":

The plane arrived. (Any time in the past, even years ago.)
The plane has arrived. (Very recently.)

And then, by adding "just", the differences are neutralized -- you've "covered up the reds and greens":

The plane just arrived. (Very recently.)
The plane has just arrived. (Very recently.)

Once you add adverbs, it becomes more difficult in some cases to explain the differences between tenses. The adverbs can almost overpower the meaning of the tenses.

CJ

P.S. I just noticed that Mr Wordy gave a much more succinct answer. I wonder why he is "Wordy", and not me.

Avangi · Answer

The plane [has] just arrived.

I think the standard justifications for present perfect over past are:
(1) more immediate
(2) more intimate

Since "just" covers the first one, we're left with the second one.

Parading · Answer

Thank you~~~~ Mr Wordy

Parading · Answer

Califjim~ your explanation is perfect and really interesting.

it makes me smile.~ really thanks.

Parading · Answer

Avangi~ Thanks for your answr~
but what do you mean with the 'intimate' in your post?

is there any friendly relationship or something?

Avangi · Answer

Even though the action has already occurred, you still feel connected to it. You feel involved.
With the simple past (even with "just") it's more remote.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Mr. CJ!

If I add now in the sentence, is it ok? The plane has just arrived now in Macao.

Anonymous · Answer

Yeah, they mean exactly the same thing, although I think American English traditionally tends to favour 'the plane just arrived' while British English favours 'the plane has just arrived'. Having said that, 'the plane just arrived' is becoming more and more common in Britain now too

A better example of this is with 'already' or 'yet'.

(a) Has the plane arrived yet?
(b) Did the plane arrive yet?

In British English, only (a) is usually acceptable, but American English tends to use (b) more (I think!).

Anonymous · Answer

No, it's not ok. "Now" is for presimt tense continuous. This is a pastrat tense, that just ended (recently). It make no sense by adding "now".

Just arrived vs. have just arrived

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