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Tanner92 Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

kind of sentences where it is more usual to use past simple instead of present perfect?

Dear teachers.

One of the uses of present perfect is to emphasise something what has just happened. However I´ve met with a lot of sentences where this condition was fulfilled but the speaker didn´t use present perfect. To be honest I don´t remember whether the speaker spoke either British or American English. From that standpoint my question is more general and doesn´t focus on the difference between Am. and Br. English. Would it be possible to use present perfect in all my examples below as they all are about something what has just happened or is it even in British English just more idiomatic to use past simple despite the mentioned present perfect "rule".?

Thank you.


Did I insult you? I am sorry I don´t remember the context here.

Really you spoke to Penny?  Two person talking to one another when one of them starts being annoyed and stops the conversation. It´s all because the other person told him something inappropriate, too personal. The person who told that impersonal/inapproproate statement why the person he is talking to stopped the conversation and asks him "Did I insult you?"

- How did that stay in? such a long rally in tennis - commentator said this right after the long rally

- Where did that voice come from? A fan tried singing Taylor Swift´s song and wasn´t bad at all. After he finished singing Taylor was amazed and said " Wooow, where did that voice come from" ? - Was it out - the same as in the sentence with "staying in"
  

Top answer

I'm afraid your examples confused me, but I will help you with something else. Please note the following: One of the uses of present perfect is to emphasise something what that has just happened. Would it be possible to use present perfect in all my examples below as they all are about something what that has just happened ...

  • I'm afraid your examples confused me, but I will help you with something else.
  • Please note the following: One of the uses of present perfect is to emphasise something what that has just happened.
  • Would it be possible to use present perfect in all my examples below as they all are about something what that has just happened ...
  • I´ve m et with encountered lot of sentences
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3 Answers
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I'm afraid your examples confused me, but I will help you with something else. Please note the following:

One of the uses of present perfect is to emphasise something what that has just happened.

Would it be possible to use present perfect in all my examples below as they all are about something what
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Thank you very much for your helpful advice.

What confused you, could you tell me so that I could explain it better?
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Tanner92One of the uses of present perfect is to emphasise something that something has just happened.
More precisely perhaps, to report a currently relevant update of a situation. I don't think "just happened" is quite enough to bring in the present perfect. Besides, t

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