Perfect vs simple

Question

Hi again.I'm kind of confused about perfect vs simple.I'll post some examples when i'm unsure whether perfect or simple fits better.Imagine a discussion:-Hey, I have coloured my hair. (What about past simple here? But i'd go with perfect because 'I have coloured so my hair has different colour now')-Really! I hadn't noticed it. (I'd use this, because 'I hadn't noticed it before you told me')Another:-You have to put your hands together.-Really? I hadn't known that. (I hadn't known, before you told me.)Another example:I just found my card behind my bed! I had searched there so many times. (Had searched, before i found it?) And I'm upset because I hadn't found it before. Another:-I hadn't known that. But I have seen your topic. (So I know it now?)And what about:-I hadn't known that. But I have seen your topic and I have been thinking about it.And this:I hadn't known that before I saw/have seen your topic. But I have been thinking about it and I think..And another one:-I don't know how it should it be like. (Is the word order correct here? what about 'idk how should it be'?)-This should be like this.-Really! I had been confused even though I had understood the meaning of the sentence.(CalifJim corrected this to 'was' and 'understood'. Why? In my opinion, 'I had been confused, before you told me how it should be. And I had understood it even before you told me')Another:-I'm doing my homework, could you give me a hand with it?-No, I can't lend you my pen.-Hey man! I had always thought that you actually read what I write. (I had thought it before I realised he doesn't?)And probably the last one:-You should write it there as well.-I had already written it. (I had written it before you asked?)I know this is quite a long topic but I'm really confused and I want to deal with it once forever.And please, if you have found any grammatical mistake (regardless the tenses) in this post, correct me in your response please.Thanks in advance.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I'm kind of confused about perfect vs simple.
I'll post some examples when i'm unsure whether perfect or simple fits better.

Imagine a discussion:
-Hey, I have coloured my hair. (What about past simple here? But i'd go with perfect because 'I have coloured so my hair has different colour now') Simple Past is often used here, but I agree that Present Perfect is better.

-Really! I hadn't noticed it. (I'd use this, because 'I hadn't noticed it before you told me') This is not wrong, but the Simple Past is much more common. As I told you before, the Past Perfect is not used as much as learners think, particularly in situations where the sequence of events is obvious.

Another:
-You have to put your hands together.
-Really? I hadn't known that. (I hadn't known, before you told me.) Same comment as above. And the same comment will apply to most if not all of your other examples.

I suggest you reconsider your other examples, to see whether the sequence of events is obvious. If so, use Simple Past.

Then post agan if you wish.

Clive

Hardell · Answer

Thanks Clive.

But look, I'm going to take FCE exams and I need no know, which alternative would be considered as the correct one.

As you mentioned, past simple is used when a consequence is obvious. But is that like this only in spoken, informal english or even in formal english.

I just need to know, which alternative will be accepted at my exam.

Again, thanks in advance.

Clive · Answer

Hi again,
Cambridge English: First, commonly known as First Certificate in English (FCE) is an exam for people who need to prove they can use everyday written and spoken English at an upper-intermediate level for work or study purposes.
Ready for success in the real world
The Cambridge English: First exam uses real-life situations that are especially designed to help you communicate more effectively and learn the language skills you need.

But look, I'm going to take FCE exams and I need no know, which alternative would be considered as the correct one.

As you mentioned, past simple is used when a consequence is obvious. But is that like this only in spoken, informal english or even in formal english. All three.

I just need to know, which alternative will be accepted at my exam.
I got the above descrition of the FCE from http://www.cambridgeesol.org/exams/general-english/fce.html
Note the parts I have marked in bold.

I'll now go through your earlier examples and correct them to everyday English.
The underlining is yours,not mine.

______________

Imagine a discussion:
-Hey, I've coloured my hair.
-Really! I didn't notice.

Another:
-You have to put your hands together.
-Really? I didn't know that

Another example:
I just found my card behind my bed! I searched there so many times. And I'm upset because I didn't find it before.

Another:
-I didn't know that. But I saw your ~~topic~~ article (?).

And what about:
-I didn't know that. But I saw your ~~topic~~ article and I have been thinking about it.

And this:
I didn't know that before I saw/ your article. But I have been thinking about it and I think..

And another one:
-I don't know what it should it be like.

-It (This) should be like this.
-Really! I was confused even though I understood the meaning of the sentence.

Another:
-I'm doing my homework. Could you give me a hand with it?
-No, I can't lend you my pen.
-Hey man! I always thought that you actually read what I wrote. (I don't understand what this means, in this conversation.)

And probably the last one:
-You should write it there as well.
-I already did.

Clive

Hardell · Answer

Thank you Clive.

Perfect vs simple

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