Past simple vs present perfect

Question

I was reading a page about the present perfect, and I came across this example:

_I’ve read that book you lent me. I finished it yesterday._

I have two questions about this sentence.

First question: Why are we supposed to add "have" after I, but no "have" after lent.

Second question: If I were to say:

_I read that book you lent me. I finished it yesterday._ (leaving out "have") Does it sound wrong to a native speaker. Or is it considered okay.

Thanks.

GPY · Accepted Answer

In this case, "I've read" refers to past action that is perceived as resulting in a present state (the completed state of "having read the book"), while the action "lent" is not perceived to result in a present state. Compare with:

— Can I borrow your book?
— Sorry, I've lent it to Sarah.

Here "I've lent" is correct because it the implication is "I've lent it and therefore I no longer have it" (present state).

"I read that book you lent me" is also possible. This does not make the same connection between the reading of the book and the present situation. It just treats the reading as a past event.

JaxTeller · Answer

I see, thanks for being so elaborate So if I were to have a conversation right now and I said: "I read the book you lent me", it would grammatically be okay?

JaxTeller · Answer

Emre25I see, thanks for being so elaborate So if I were to have a conversation right now and I said: "I read the book you lent me", it would grammatically be okay?

Edit: since I am not pointing out whether it's yesterday, last week or last year etc. When we don't know when the action took place we use the present perfect, but I'd like to know if it is still okay to use the past simple when we don't state when the action took place.

GPY · Answer

Emre25I see, thanks for being so elaborate So if I were to have a conversation right now and I said: "I read the book you lent me", it would grammatically be okay?

Yes. Personally, I would more naturally say "I've read the book you lent me", assuming that it happened quite recently. Some people may say "I read". This is personal preference or just random variation. My feeling is that simple past in such cases may be relatively more common in AmE than BrE, but I'm not certain.

When talking about historical events (that happened a long time ago), you cannot use "I've read" (unless it is an "experiential" present perfect, which is slightly different).

Emre25When we don't know when the action took place we use the present perfect,

This is not really true. Obviously in this particular example the speaker is bound to know when the action took place. In another cases when you don't know, the present perfect may or may not be appropriate, depending on context.

CalifJim · Answer

Emre25When we don't know when the action took place we use the present perfect

Not quite. When we don't state when the action took place we can use the present perfect. We don't have to.

.............................Time stated ...............Not Stated

Past.............................OK...........................OK
Present Perfect ...........NO..........................OK

CJ

JaxTeller · Answer

Oh cool. Now it's clear to me. Last question. Say I just won a game. Is it okay to use either one, when shouting "I won / i've won"?

GPY · Answer

Emre25Oh cool. Now it's clear to me. Last question. Say I just won a game. Is it okay to use either one, when shouting "I won / i've won"?

Yes.

I've not i've.

JaxTeller · Answer

Thank you again, and sorry I was on my phone, hence the typo.

Past simple vs present perfect

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