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Kooyeen Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
Present perfect + ago... impossible?
Hi,
this is probably the dumbest question, but maybe it's not... is it impossible to use the present perfect with "ago"? Take a look at these:
I've already seen that movie a couple of months ago.
I've just seen your sister a few minutes ago.
Comments? Thanks.
this is probably the dumbest question, but maybe it's not... is it impossible to use the present perfect with "ago"? Take a look at these:
I've already seen that movie a couple of months ago.
I've just seen your sister a few minutes ago.
Comments? Thanks.
Top answer
People probably say that; I wouldn't write it.
- People probably say that; I wouldn't write it.
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22 Answers
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Thanks.
So it seems it's not a dumb question, after all. I think I've always used those kind of structures, but I've never thought about this problem (provided it is a problem). I decided to post after I saw this, which was written today by Grammar Geek:
And now, let's close this ancient thread, which has already been addressed years ago.
So it seems it's not a dumb question, after all. I think I've always used those kind of structures, but I've never thought about this problem (provided it is a problem). I decided to post after I saw this, which was written today by Grammar Geek:
And now, let's close this ancient thread, which has already been addressed years ago.
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KooyeenI've already seen that movie a couple of months ago.If you feel you must use the "present perfect" AND "ago" try something like this:
I've just seen your sister a few minutes ago.
I've already seen that movie; I saw it a couple of months ago.
I've just seen your sister; I saw her a few minutes ago.
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KooyeenHi,I saw that movie a couple of months ago. (Use simple past w
this is probably the dumbest question, but maybe it's not... is it impossible to use the present perfect with "ago"? Take a look at these:
I've already seen that movie a couple of months ago.
I've just seen your sister a few minutes ago.
Comments? Thanks.
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You may find present perfect used with ago, but it is not correct, technically. Both of your examples and the one by GG strike me as strange. (In case you are planning to search on all my posts over the years, let me add that that doesn't mean I might not inadvertently use the same construction myself on a rare occasion.
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See www.m-w.com for word meanings.
It means unintentionally, accidentally. It's an adverb, yes.
CJ
It means unintentionally, accidentally. It's an adverb, yes.
CJ
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Hmmm, very interesting, thanks.
So would you think that...
I've already checked it a few minutes ago. <--- sometimes heard, but not good.
I already checked it a few minutes ago. <------ it's a little better than the above, but still not good.
I've just checked it a few minutes ago. <------- This is ok, though.
I just checked it a few minutes ago. <----------- Th
So would you think that...
I've already checked it a few minutes ago. <--- sometimes heard, but not good.
I already checked it a few minutes ago. <------ it's a little better than the above, but still not good.
I've just checked it a few minutes ago. <------- This is ok, though.
I just checked it a few minutes ago. <----------- Th
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WesternAmericanWhat does inadvertently mean?Yes, it's an adverb.
I bet it's an adverb!
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I've just checked it a few minutes ago. <------- This is ok, though.
No. Strictly speaking (i.e., prescriptively -- Please don't harm me!), no present perfect tenses together with a mention of a particular time, including ago expressions and when, after, before, and similar time clauses.
But: All of these combinations of present per
No. Strictly speaking (i.e., prescriptively -- Please don't harm me!), no present perfect tenses together with a mention of a particular time, including ago expressions and when, after, before, and similar time clauses.
But: All of these combinations of present per
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