present perfect or past silmple

Question

hi teachersthis sentence confuses me.I met some nice people at the party.     orI have met some nice people at the party.I know the rules ,I think, with present perfect and past simple but my teacher said the first sentance is correct ,but did'nt really explain me why. Could someone explain why to me please.Thanks

Teechr · Accepted Answer

AnonymousI met some nice people at the party.

The party is already finished.

AnonymousI have met some nice people at the party.

You're still at the party; it's not yet finished.

Wilpeter · Answer

“I met some nice people at the party. or

I have met some nice people at the party.”

I know the rules, I think, with present perfect and past simple; but my teacher said the first sentence is correct, but (did'nt) didn’t really explain (me) why. Could someone explain why to me please.

The first sentence is correct when speaking of having met people at a party that happened any time in the past. The second sentence is a much more recent party—perhaps even a party that is still in progress.

Note that your placement of the comma in your post is incorrect. The comma immediately follows a word and is itself followed by a space.

Cross Posted.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI know the rules, I think, with present perfect and past simple

But sometimes the rules are hard to apply. To my ear "at the party" seems to be talking about a party that you went to at some specific time in the past, so I think that's the idea you are trying to express. Since we don't use the present perfect when we mention a specific time in the past, we use the simple past in this case. There is no explicit mention of time like "yesterday" or "last week", but I think "at the party" suggests a specific time enough to say that the simple past should be used.

If you make the time very indefinite by saying "at parties", the present perfect works much better:

I have met some nice people at parties.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks for that.

Whatabout saying

I met some friends in town today.
Or
I have met some friends today in town.

I'm confused which one is correct.

I used today but I thought it's only for present perfect?

Thank you for your help.

Laborious · Answer

CalifJimBut sometimes the rules are hard to apply. To my ear "at the party" seems to be talking about a party that you went to at some specific time in the past, so I think that's the idea you are trying to express. Since we don't use the present perfect when we mention a specific time in the past, we use the simple past in this case. There is no explicit mention of time like "yesterday" or "last week", but I think "at the party" suggests a specific time enough to say that the simple past should be used.If you make the time very indefinite by saying "at parties", the present perfect works much better:I have met some nice people at parties.CJ

Though I understood what you said above, CJ, but there are situations that come to my mind where 'at the party' doesn't seem that bad to me.

For ex: I have (just) met some nice people at the party, and they have assured me that our movie is going to get positive response from the viewers.

Does that seem natural to you?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI used today but I thought it's only for present perfect?

No. You can use 'today' with either of those.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

LaboriousI have (just) met some nice people at the party, and they have assured me that our movie is going to get positive response from the viewers.

To my ear it's OK if you're still at the party, though I'd be tempted to say 'this party' or just 'here'. Shortly after the party (within the next week, say), it would be that you'd met them at a party.

CJ

present perfect or past silmple

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