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PASTEL Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Past tense

Chris just told me something very funny.

"You cracked me up," I said.

"Yeeeah, but Sabrian, in this case, you should use the present tense of 'crack,' using the past tense sounds like the event happened in the past, like yesterday or a few days ago I cracked you up."

I didn't know this before. I used to think when things happened, stick to the past tense. When things just happened, the present perfect is possible too.

Thanks, I've just had lunch.

Thanks, I had lunch already.

You've cracked me up.

You crack me up. (Sounds like someone's habit to crack people up.Haha! )

You cracked me up.

Any comment?

Thanks, Pastel
  

Top answer

This expression is rarely used in the past tense, because it is often used to describe the overall quality of the person telling the joke, not the joke itself. For example, if I say "You crack me up", I'm saying that I find you funny in general.

— Ron In Ohio

  • This expression is rarely used in the past tense, because it is often used to describe the overall quality of the person telling the joke, not the joke itself.
  • For example, if I say "You crack me up", I'm saying that I find you funny in general.
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7 Answers
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This expression is rarely used in the past tense, because it is often used to describe the overall quality of the person telling the joke, not the joke itself.

For example, if I say "You crack me up", I'm saying that I find you funny in general.
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Okay, but Chris in general is not of much fun(sorry, Chris!). But a few days ago, he really cracked me up.

Does the past tense work?
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Yes it does....that is a very good example of it working well in the past tense.
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PASTELYou've cracked me up.

You crack me up. (Sounds like someone's habit to crack people up.Haha! )

You cracked me up.

All of these are fine, Pastel--each with it's nuanced time-meaning. You are right about the implication in "you crack me up", and there would be a time and circumstance where the other two would be appropriate cho
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Hi! Davkett,

Thanks for dropping by. I get your meaning. It's just that I was confused when Chris said that I should have used "You crack me up" right after when he said something funny. I thought the joke was told already and it was funny, so I said "You cracked me up." When you finished your breakfast 2 seconds ago, you would tell me this, "I just had breakfast, Pastel."
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Hi
Which one is right please?

He knew he had no way.
He knew he has no way.
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