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Pleasehelp Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Learned
I've learned a lot at the office.
I learned a lot at the office.
What's the difference between these two sentences? Aside from Present perfect and simple past tense usage.
I learned a lot at the office.
What's the difference between these two sentences? Aside from Present perfect and simple past tense usage.
Top answer
In the first one, you relate what you've learned to the present situation: you've learned a lot = you know a lot You can say that when you're still working in that office (and you can still learn more) or when you're leaving it. pleasehelp I learned a lot at the office. Using this one, you are speaking of an action in the past, irrelevant to the present situation.
- In the first one, you relate what you've learned to the present situation: you've learned a lot = you know a lot You can say that when you're still working in that office (and you can still learn more) or when you're leaving it.
- pleasehelp I learned a lot at the office.
- Using this one, you are speaking of an action in the past, irrelevant to the present situation.
- You cannot learn there more because you're no longer working there.
- Consider this: 'you learned a lot' doesn't have to mean 'you know a lot'.
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8 Answers
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In the first one, you relate what you've learned to the present situation:
you've learned a lot = you know a lot
You can say that when you're still working in that office (and you can still learn more) or when you're leaving it.
you've learned a lot = you know a lot
You can say that when you're still working in that office (and you can still learn more) or when you're leaving it.
pleasehelpI learned a lot at the office.Using this one, you are speaking of an action in the past, irrelev
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I basically agree with Michal on this one. I will just add that you can use the present perfect whenever you want to focus on the result of your learning there with respect to the present, regardless of whether you still work there or quitted working years ago.
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And I don't think I agree with Ivan.
If I no longer worked there, even though I value what I learned at my job three years ago, I would not say "I've learned a lot." It would be simple past: I learned a lot.
If I no longer worked there, even though I value what I learned at my job three years ago, I would not say "I've learned a lot." It would be simple past: I learned a lot.
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What I had in mind was something like the following
I've learned enough/a lot to pass the exam. (the exam is due next month)
I learned enough/a lot to pass the test. (the exam is over)
The only time I learned something relevant to the exam was while still working at the office. My question is 'Is the time of my working at the office of any importance here?
I
I've learned enough/a lot to pass the exam. (the exam is due next month)
I learned enough/a lot to pass the test. (the exam is over)
The only time I learned something relevant to the exam was while still working at the office. My question is 'Is the time of my working at the office of any importance here?
I
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Yes, it's important. The time of learning there is over if you no longer worked there.
I'm so glad I worked at Acme. I learned a lot there. (And with my professional licensing exam coming up, I"m going to apply that knowledge.)
I'm so glad i work at Acme. I've learned a lot here.
I'm so glad I worked at Acme. I learned a lot there. (And with my professional licensing exam coming up, I"m going to apply that knowledge.)
I'm so glad i work at Acme. I've learned a lot here.
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Ok, thanks.
Asked whether he had assured Brown that he will step down, then changed his mind, Blair replied: "I've dealt with this six months ago. I said then you don't do deals over jobs like this. You don't."
The sentence was said by Tony Blair. Do you think it's acceptable to use the present perfect here?
Asked whether he had assured Brown that he will step down, then changed his mind, Blair replied: "I've dealt with this six months ago. I said then you don't do deals over jobs like this. You don't."
The sentence was said by Tony Blair. Do you think it's acceptable to use the present perfect here?
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I'm sure that if he were writing it down, he would use the simple past. When we're speaking, we don't usually self-edit before we speak.
As you know, you don't use present perfect with a specific time reference.
As you know, you don't use present perfect with a specific time reference.
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Grammar Geek
As you know, you don't use present perfect with a specific time reference.
That's why I asked. I'm just wondering if he deliberately wanted to override that rule to emphasize the importance of his decision not to step down. So probably just a slip of the tongue.
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