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Anonymous Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
past vs present perfect
Hi, I know that you use the simple past for an action happened in a definite time in the past and the present perfect for a time period that didn’t end yet. Once, I heard Peter Griffin say this on an episode of “the family guy”: I’ve never asked for anything, but I don’t know where else to turn”.
-Can I assume that all the times I want to use the adverb “never”, I should use the present perfect?
-If so, what are the others adverbs, or other words that indicate that I have to use the present perfect?
Instead of trying to always reason if the time period is definite or didn’t end yet, I’m trying to find some kind of “trick” that can help me to make things easier. Like, I already know that if I use the word today, I should use the present perfect. I’d like to make a list of all the words that usually indicate the need to use either the past or the present perfect.
This is about the 18th time a post a question on this forum. I don’t know how to thank you guys enough. This forum is so useful, you guys are so helpful. The more I post, the more I feel that saying “thanks” just once is not enough. I’m gonna keep saying just “thanks” but that “thanks” means: you are the best, you are all good men (and women), thank you so much, I cant thank you enough.
Thanks
-Can I assume that all the times I want to use the adverb “never”, I should use the present perfect?
-If so, what are the others adverbs, or other words that indicate that I have to use the present perfect?
Instead of trying to always reason if the time period is definite or didn’t end yet, I’m trying to find some kind of “trick” that can help me to make things easier. Like, I already know that if I use the word today, I should use the present perfect. I’d like to make a list of all the words that usually indicate the need to use either the past or the present perfect.
This is about the 18th time a post a question on this forum. I don’t know how to thank you guys enough. This forum is so useful, you guys are so helpful. The more I post, the more I feel that saying “thanks” just once is not enough. I’m gonna keep saying just “thanks” but that “thanks” means: you are the best, you are all good men (and women), thank you so much, I cant thank you enough.
Thanks
Top answer
Forget about lists. You can use the perfect and the past tense with never. The past tense is more common in AmE: I have never liked him very much.
- Forget about lists.
- You can use the perfect and the past tense with never.
- The past tense is more common in AmE: I have never liked him very much.
- I never liked him very much.
- Even with today you might use the past tense if "today" is nearly over: I didn't see him today.
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2 Answers
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Forget about lists. You can use the perfect and the past tense with never. The past tense is more common in AmE:
I have never liked him very much.
I never liked him very much.
Even with today you might use the past tense if "today" is nearly over:
I didn't see him today. (Possible a few minutes before midnight. He is not going to show up
I have never liked him very much.
I never liked him very much.
Even with today you might use the past tense if "today" is nearly over:
I didn't see him today. (Possible a few minutes before midnight. He is not going to show up
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Hi,
I know that you use the simple past for an action happened in a definite time in the past and the present perfect for a time period that didn’t end yet. There's more to it than that. You need to review the uses of the Present perfect in a good grammar book.
Once, I heard Peter Griffin say this on an episode of
I know that you use the simple past for an action happened in a definite time in the past and the present perfect for a time period that didn’t end yet. There's more to it than that. You need to review the uses of the Present perfect in a good grammar book.
Once, I heard Peter Griffin say this on an episode of
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