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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect or past simple?

I've got a letter in which I have to put present perfect or past simple tense:

I'm writing to tell you all the lastest family news. Aunt Daisy (1) had a baby girl a week ago. Uncle Nick is very pleased. They (2) ........ (name) the baby Louise. Uncle Bruce ........... (buy) a new car and he (4) ............. (give) the old one to Aunt Celia. Do you remember my cousin Rupert? Well, he (5) moved to Germany last month. He (6) ........... (take) his wife and children with him. Grandpa (7) took Alex on a fishing trip last weekend. Unfortunately, they (8) didn't catch any fish!
Grandma (9) have recently redecorated the living room. She (10) ............ (paint) the walls pink and (11) ............. (buy) a new carpet to match. It looks lovely.
That's all for now. Take care and write soon with your news.

I have already filled the gaps I knew the answer to.

Please give your answer with the explanation why there must be the particular tense.
This is what I think:

1) "had" because it was "a week ago"

2) "named" because we still know that it was "a week ago"
3) "have bought" because we want to emphasize the event OR "bought" because it was in the past
4) "gave" because we are not interested in what happened to the old car
5) "moved" because it was "last month"
6) "took" because we know that it was "last month" OR "have taken" because they most probably are still there
7) "took" because it was "last weekend"
8) "didn't catch" because it is a finished event
9) "have recently redecorated" because it was "recently"
10) "have painted" > recently
11) "bought" because it is a continuation of the Present Perfect sentence OR "have bought"

Thanks
  

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6 Answers
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is there anybody who knows that, please?
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Well, I can tell you what I think, but I'm not absolutely sure whether it's correct.

1) had (specific time)

2) I honestly see no difference between named or have named. I would choose have named.

3) has bought (we don't care when exactly, presumably not too long ago)

4) has given (same as 3)

5) moved (specific time)

6) took
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thanks for your reply!
If there is anyone else who could contribute, you're very welcome!
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OK, I'll give you my 2 cents: (l) Sometimes either the past or present perfect is correct. (2) I agree with the answers suggested by the first contributor; however, I would feel more comfortable saying, "Uncle Bruce BOUGHT a new car and has given the old one to Aunt Celia." My reasoning? Well, books tell us to use the past "to say when something happened." So "Uncle Bruce bought a car" means, o
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Thank you.
AnonymousSo "Uncle Bruce bought a car" means, of course, on a certain day in the past, and that day is gone. I like "has given the old one to Aunt Celia" because books tell us that the present perfect "started in the past and still touches the present." We don't know what day he GAVE the car to her.
I think that the same you said about "giving" th
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