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Mshokrof Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

Past Tense and Present Perfect

what is the correct tense of the verb in the following sentence?
Sorry I'm late.The Car ......(broke) down on my way here

I am studying from the Cambridge English in use book (Intermediate). According to the one of uses of past perfect tense described on unit 7. we use the past perfect when we are talking about some thing that happened in the past but have results now.
  

Top answer

Do you mean present perfect? The present perfect is not normally used with individual specific time references like "on my way here".

— GPY

  • Do you mean present perfect?
  • The present perfect is not normally used with individual specific time references like "on my way here".
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7 Answers
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Do you mean present perfect? The present perfect is not normally used with individual specific time references like "on my way here".
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'... 0n my way here' (= '...-- while I was on my way here') refers to a time located in the past which is not related to any other time. A perfect form, either present or past, is therefore not appropriate. You need a simple past tense.
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mshokrofAccording to the book one of uses of the past present perfect tense is as described in unit 7. We use the past
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I mistakenly said "past perfect" but I meant Present perfect. so If "on my way" is not mentioned .Is it safe to use Present Perfect ?.
In this case the sentence will mean that the car broke sometime on the past.
Thanks,
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I didnt know that I am making alot of mistakes while writing .Do you have advise for me to improve my writing ?

BTW Yes I mean Present Perfect.

Thanks
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mshokrofI mistakenly said "past perfect" but I meant Present perfect.
OK.
mshokrofso If "on my way" is not mentioned .Is it safe to use Present Perfect ?.
No, because the main idea is that you're apologizing for being late. The current situation is at your place of work, not at the scene of the car breakdown.

If yo
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mshokrof alot of mistakes
a lot of mistakes

There is no word "alot".
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