Present Perfect or Simple Past - Facebook

Question

I've read a post on facebook which shows a seal popping out of a lake with the posting
"Look who decided to pop up and say hello"

Why is it Past simple? Could it be present perfect too since the decision was made in the past to pop up and then say hello (present), so it has a connection to the present?
I really don't understand this past simple and present perfect thing and I've read thousands of grammar books... (maybe not 1000, but you know what I mean)

The first sentence "I've read a post on..." could also be simple past, right? The meaning would change to a meaning, where I am not concerned about this topic at the present time anymore, because it was (or has been?) terminated?"

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousWhy is it Past simple? Could it be present perfect too since the decision was made in the past to pop up and then say hello (present), so it has a connection to the present?

Yes.

AnonymousI really don't understand this past simple and present perfect thing and I've read thousands of grammar books... (maybe not 1000, but you know what I mean)

Nobody else understands it either. It's as difficult as quantum mechanics.

Maybe you're trying too hard. There are lots of situations where it makes no difference which of those tenses you use. To make things even more confusing, some speakers tend to choose the simple past in cases where others would choose the present perfect. It's a matter of how each speaker thinks of the situation.

AnonymousThe first sentence "I've read a post on..." could also be simple past, right?

Yes.

AnonymousThe meaning would change to a meaning, where I am not concerned about this topic at the present time anymore, because it was (or has been?) terminated?"

Everything you say has some relevance to the present, or you wouldn't say it. That's why the use of the concept of "present relevance" as a means of choosing the present perfect is not always completely effective.

CJ

Mister Micawber · Answer

AnonymousWhy is it Past simple?

Author's choice.

AnonymousCould it be present perfect too

Yes.

Anonymoussince the decision was made in the past to pop up and then say hello (present), so it has a connection to the present?

No. Because it is a recent event.

AnonymousThe first sentence "I've read a post on..." could also be simple past, right?

That would be better.

Anonymous The meaning would change to a meaning, where I am not concerned about this topic at the present time

I would hope that you were still concerned; otherwise, why should we advise you on it?

Anonymous · Answer

...And that is exactly the reason why I don't understand present perfect (or his derivates like present perfekt continuos).
How can I distinguish between "connection" to present/past or terminated action? You said that it is a thing of preferences too, but there seem to be common phrases where it would sound wrong to use past simple tenses.

For instance:
Having been asked after a vacation how it was why would I answer with "It was awesome" and not "It has been awesome" when the "awesomeness" startet in the past and continues to the present?

Or the common sentence "Last year has been good" - why not "Was good", why is there a connection to the present, when you also can hear the subtext that you are happy the year ended, so a new "fresh" year could start (I hope you understand what I'm trying to say)

I understood that you use since and for only with perfect tenses (why? I don't have a clue). This is the only thing I know I have to use perfect tenses.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousHaving been asked after a vacation how it was

It was awesome. The vacation is finished. You describe this as "after" a vacation.

TIME ......................................... X (the present moment)
[ vacation ] ..... < time gap > ......X
[was awesome] ..........................X

Suppose you're asked during a vacation:

[ - - - - - - - v a c a t i o n - - - - - - - X (no time gap)
[ h a s . b e e n . a w e s o m e - - X

AnonymousOr the common sentence "Last year has been good" - why not "Was good"

"was good" is actually more logical.

[Jan Feb Mar ... Oct Nov Dec] Jan Feb Mar ... X
[ ............. was good ..............] < time gap > ... X

AnonymousI understood that you use since and for only with perfect tenses (why? I don't have a clue).

With much of language there is no answer to "Why?" but this is an easy one to remember.
"since" just tells you the starting point. The situation still continues up to the present, so it means "until now" without even saying the words "until now".

I have lived here since 2009.
2007 2008 2009 ...................... X
...................[ have lived here ... X
____________________________________

You are wrong about "for", however. "for" is not used only with perfect tenses.

I worked at FMG for three years. (any three consecutive years ending before now)
2004 2005 2006 2007 ................X
[worked at FMG] ... < time gap > X

I have worked at FMG for three years. (the three years ending now)
2004 ................... 2013 2014 2015 2016
................................. [ have worked X (no time gap)

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much! I'm beginng to understand now.
But why do you use "was" in "was awesome" - the vacation was clearly in the past however the "feelling" of "awesomeness" could still continue into the present and change the way you will behave in the future?! You say I've been to Paris too (so maybe I could speak french now) but I have read (hoping this is correct) that you can use the simple past without time indicators also, so "I was in Paris" would be correct too... ?

"The situation still continues up to the present, so it means "until nosw" without even saying the words "until now". Hmm? I always have thought you use present perfect progressive when something continues in the present. And present perfect when it has somehow a connection to the present.

Ahh... why don't you have just only 6 tenses like in germany

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousBut why do you use "was" in "was awesome" - the vacation was clearly in the past however the "feelling" of "awesomeness" could still continue into the present and change the way you will behave in the future?

If the feeling of awe continues up to the present, yhen you would not say 'The vacation was awesome'. That restricts the feeling of awe to the vacation.

Anonymous · Answer

What would you say then?
"It has been awesome!" - this can't be correct either because it refers to vacation.
But everything could be used as a time reference (time frame) if you just try:
"I have lived in a house in germany" => "in a house in germany" could be like "vacation" a time period, so I could consider it wrong and just say "I lived in a house in germany"?
I would have used "have lived" here because the action is not completed and continues to have importance in the present?! (but can't there be present perfect phrases which ended too and only have a connection to the present...)

Fivejedjon · Answer

AnonymousWhat would you say then?"It has been awesome!" - this can't be correct either because it refers to vacation.

You cannot link a past vacation and a time period extending from the beginning of the vacation to a time point after the end of the vacation. unless the end of the vacation is irrelevant.. You can say 'The vacation was great', 'I have felt great since the start of my vacation', and 'I have felt great since the end of my vacation', but you cannot, after the vacation, say 'The vacation has been great'.

You can say, some time after you have left Germany, 'I have lived in a house in Germany', just as you can say, some time after you have finished a vacation, 'I have had a vacation'. Both of these things are part of your life experience extending up to the moment of speaking.

Present Perfect or Simple Past - Facebook

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions