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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
past simple/present perfect exercise in my grammar book
I have an exercise in my book, it tells me to correct the sentences if it is neccesary; and there it is:
"Did you ever play practical jokes as a child?"
I thought it's not going to change, since i was a child a long time ago, but the key says that i should change it to: "Have you ever played practical jokes as a child?"
My question is: is it right? If it is right then i would like an explenation why i should use present perfect here. The situation happened a long time ago (when i was a child) and has nothing to do with the present, so for me it's like obvious past simple.
"Did you ever play practical jokes as a child?"
I thought it's not going to change, since i was a child a long time ago, but the key says that i should change it to: "Have you ever played practical jokes as a child?"
My question is: is it right? If it is right then i would like an explenation why i should use present perfect here. The situation happened a long time ago (when i was a child) and has nothing to do with the present, so for me it's like obvious past simple.
Top answer
Anonymous Have you ever played practical jokes as a child? This suggests you're still a child. Anonymous Did you ever play practical jokes as a child?
- Anonymous Have you ever played practical jokes as a child?
- This suggests you're still a child.
- Anonymous Did you ever play practical jokes as a child?
- This suggests you're no longer a child.
- Therefore, I tend to agree with you, not with your book.
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2 Answers
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AnonymousHave you ever played practical jokes as a child?This suggests you're still a child.
AnonymousDid you ever play practical jokes as a child?This suggests you're no longer a child.
Therefore, I tend to agree with you, not with your book.
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I would say:
Have you ever played practical jokes?
Did you ever play practical jokes as a child?
I wouldn't normally say Have you ever played practical jokes as a child?
To me, it sounds as though the questioner is asking if you pretend to be a child (or temporarily become one) and play practical jokes. If you are actually a child, the
Have you ever played practical jokes?
Did you ever play practical jokes as a child?
I wouldn't normally say Have you ever played practical jokes as a child?
To me, it sounds as though the questioner is asking if you pretend to be a child (or temporarily become one) and play practical jokes. If you are actually a child, the
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