Past

Hi,

I had a notion to write them a letter.

Will this sentence be wrong or incomplete if I don't include a time reference?

In theory, for clear understanding we need a time reference when we talk about the past, but in practice we are often easy-going about this. The time is often implicit rather than explicit.

Don't forget, also, th

Ah, I see. Thank you Clive.

So, in other words, it is not necessary to make reference to the time if the time when something happened is understood but it is always better to include the time reference. Am I right? In addition, you mentioned that in practice we are ofter easy-going about that but will it sill be considered as correct English if you don't make reference to the time? Wh

Hi PBF,
I hope you are not being confused by some grammar book that says you have to use the simple past if a time reference is mentioned! (and in that case avoid the present perfect).

The simple past is just a simple past... you can use it in a lot of ways, without mentioning any time references:

I once saw a dog as big as an elephant.
Ah-ha! I knew you were trying to c

Hi PBF

Clive mentioned that you cannot just consider sentences in isolation and that was very important.
If a time reference is important or necessary, it is often found somewhere else in the context (i.e. in some other sentence). This is just as true in casual speech as it is in formal writing. And, as Clive mentioned, the time is often implicit or understood even if it i

I think I understand more about it now. Thank you for your help, Yankee and Kooyeen.

You were right Kooyeen, that caught up with me while I was reading some grammars on the internet.

It all comes to the same conclusion - context.

Thanks again.