Past Simple\Present Perfect, Dead\Alive

Question

Hello!I'm starting to learn grammar and I have a question regarding the time of Past Simple and Present Perfect. Please help me to correctly formulate the following phrases:Abraham Lincoln was\have been elected president of one time.Barack Obama was\have been elected president two times.These phrases I want to talk about the fact “1 and 2” and all!There are no references to specific points in no time (Time does not matter).Just the fact of “1 and 2”, which is the “1 and 2”, instead of “2 and 4” or “24 and 58”.How I must properly formulate these two phrases?Thank you in advance!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

These are correct. Both happened well in the past are are finished:

Abraham Lincoln was elected President one time.
Barack Obama was elected President two times.

DmitryShJust the fact of “1 and 2”, which is the “1 and 2”, instead of “2 and 4” or “24 and 58”.

I have no idea what you are talking about, sorry, Dmitry.

DmitrySh · Answer

Mister Micawber, thank you very much for your response!
Do I understand correctly that the fact that Barack Obama is still alive, in this case, it does not matter?

Mister Micawber · Answer

DmitryShDo I understand correctly that the fact that Barack Obama is still alive, in this case, it does not matter?

That's right; it is irrelevant. It is the action (here, 'elect') that is the determiner of tense. Both men were elected in the past (1860, 2008, 2012) and those years are definitely finished: therefore, choose simple past.

DmitrySh · Answer

Mister Micawber, thank you very much for your response!

I'm trying to understand the difference when to use the Past Simple, and when the Present Perfect. And I came up with the following example:
Three months later, as Barack Obama was elected to a second term.
The office room comes John, and says loudly:
Barack Obama have been elected president two times!!! (John is eager to share with all the news. To John this is the news

)
From the room say:
John, Barack Obama was elected president two times. It is no longer news. Sit down at your workplace and not interfere with other work!
My example of the right? I used the correct tenses?

Mister Micawber · Answer

DmitryShMy example is right? I used the correct tenses?

Yes, you have the right idea about one of the main uses of the present perfect. But remember to use the 3rd person singular form: Obama has been elected.

DmitrySh · Answer

Mister Micawber, thank you very!
You helped me a lot!

Acapnotic · Answer

Am I right to think that the use of simple past is natural for Lincoln and Obama because they are both finished as presidents, i.e. can't be elected again?

What if we were talking about Putin, for example, who can still be elected? Would it be more correct to use Present Perfect to count his successful elections? That is, "Putin has been elected President three times". To me, the use of simple past seems illogical here.

Mister Micawber · Answer

acapnoticAm I right to think that the use of simple past is natural for Lincoln and Obama because they are both finished as presidents, i.e. can't be elected again?

That is not the reason for simple past, though what you say is true. Do not confuse grammar with real life.

acapnoticThat is, "Putin has been elected President three times". To me, the use of simple past seems illogical here.

Not illogical, just improbable. Either verb form could be used in the appropriate context.

Acapnotic · Answer

Mister MicawberThat is not the reason for simple past, though what you say is true. Do not confuse grammar with real life.

Sorry, but I don't quite understand you here. Do you mean that what I say is the reason for simple past in this particular case but not in general? Or that it's not the reason in this case either? The context is we are talking about the total number of someone's successful elections as president. Not in any specific period of time but in general.

Mister MicawberNot illogical, just improbable. Either verb form could be used in the appropriate context.

Would that context for simple past with reference to Putin imply that we referred to some particular period in the past rather than to the past in general up to now? Even if we didn't specify that period explicitly.

DmitrySh · Answer

Mister Micawber, please tell are my examples correct?

John: Remind me, how many times Abraham Lincoln was elected president? PastP
Bob: Abraham Lincoln was elected president 1 times. PastP
John: And how many times Putin was elected president? PastP
Bob: Vladimir Putin has been elected president three times. PresentP
Bob: And anyway, I think that President Putin is the best! Better than Obama and Lincoln! And I believe and I hope that he will be president again and again!

In this situation, Bob focuses on the result\experience, which is why using Present Perfect.
---

John: Abraham Lincoln was elected president 1 times. PastP
John: Vladimir Putin has been elected president three times. PresentP
Bob: So what? You hinted at what it will be in 4 times?
John: Yeah (sadly)
Bob: This is bad.
John: Yeah, it's bad.

In this situation, John focuses on the result\experience, which is why using Present Perfect.
---

John: the Pope is elected for life.
John: Barack Obama has been president twice. PresentP
Bob: So what? Hints on what we need to rewrite the Constitution?
John: Why not? It would be all the better.
Bob: Maybe, maybe ...

In this situation, John focuses on the result\experience, which is why using Present Perfect.
---

All right?

Past Simple\Present Perfect, Dead\Alive

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