0
Whatchadoin Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect

Is it better not to use present perfect when explaining an event that clearly happened in the past?

Today at school I tried to do it but I couldn't.
  

Top answer

If 'clearly' means a past time reference, yes. Otherwise, generally often yes.

— Mister Micawber

  • If 'clearly' means a past time reference, yes.
  • Otherwise, generally often yes.
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.

6 Answers
0
If 'clearly' means a past time reference, yes. Otherwise, generally often yes.
0
0
I've notice that you are very good at this. - It's incorrect to use 'were', isn't it? As in: I noticed that you were very good at this.

Do we always use present after present perfect with the verb 'to be'?
0
0
I've noticed that you are/were....

'Were' is fine if the skill or the task is gone.
0
0
There are situations where you can use present perfect even when the event is long gone. For example,

I stopped learning English 5 years ago.

I've stopped learning English for now.

The for now part suggests that you might go back to learning English some time in the future, so the present perfect is fine here.
0
0
Everything I've ever done is to get better. - Is 'is' OK and natural here?
0
0
I'd use was (otherwise, the meaning is obscure). is is also possible in some contexts

Everything I've ever done is now coming back to haunt me.
0

Related Questions