0
Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Present and past perfect

Hi,
I already asked about this, apparently I didn't understand or got no answer. Here:

There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked. He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds. Everyone applaudes. After a few minutes, after he get dressed, I go congratulate him. What should I say?

Congratulation man, that was great! [I've/I'd] never seen [someone/anyone] doing that completely naked!

I need some advice on the possible ways to say that. Thanks Emotion: smile
  

Top answer

Kooyeen Hi, I already asked about this, apparently I didn't understand or got no answer. Here: There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked. He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds.

— Philip

  • Kooyeen Hi, I already asked about this, apparently I didn't understand or got no answer.
  • Here: There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked.
  • He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds.
  • Everyone applaudes.
  • After a few minutes, after he get dressed, I go congratulate him.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
KooyeenHi,
I already asked about this, apparently I didn't understand or got no answer. Here:

There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked. He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds. Everyone applaudes. After a few minutes, after he get dressed, I go congratulate him. What should I say?

C
0
0
All possible. Different meanings.
0
0
Someone is legitimate too, but different meaning from anyone:

BBC NEWS | World | Africa | Staging *** myths to save Zimbabwe's girls

I have only read about it in the papers but I have never seen someone doing
0
0
... that was great! places the action in the past. The establishment of a viewpoint in the past means that the present perfect is going to clash. Say I'd never seen.

As for the other choices, I'd say ... seen anyone do that ...
anyone just because it's the more usual form with a negative (never), and do instead of doing be
0
0
Thank you.
Philip Many would use the present perfect because of the closeness of the time of the action. Technically speaking, however, I think the past perfect is more correct.
My problem is always the same: I don't know when the present perfect should be replaced with the past perfect, what "triggers" the past perfect
0
0
Oooops, I didn't see your post Jim!
I understand... at least it's clearer than before! Thank you so much. Emotion: smile
0
0
Kooyeen, the "present perfect" is used when the state (perceived or actual) caused by a past action continues to the present time. The moment you saw you friend perform the stunt that continuum of state was broken hence the need for the "past perfect".

I had never seen anyone doing that completely naked (until I saw you do it)!

0
0
BokehI had never seen anyone doing that completely naked (until I saw you do it)!

Isn't it similar in Italian?
Yes! But I can't rely on Italian, we use the past perfect on many occasions... There are a lot of things that are similar to English, but also a lot of exceptions.
0
0
KooyeenHi,
There's a guy who's trying to run through a wall of flames with his bicycle, completely naked. He starts, he passes through the flames, he succeeds. Everyone applaudes. After a few minutes, after he get dressed, I go congratulate him. What should I say?

Congratulation man, that was great! [I've/I'd] never seen [someone/anyone] doing that complet
0

Related Questions