Present Perfect/ Past Simple

Question

Hello,could you tell me whether both sentences below are correct?1. An elderly man is describing his life: I have had a great life:I have played in many great films..I have even got an Oscar two times... The first one I received in 1990 and the second one in 1995.1. I have had a great life..I have played in many great films..I even got an Oscar two times... The first one I received in 1990 and the second one in 1995.I think in the first version the man is assuming that he can still get an Oscar in the future, whereas the second version means that he doesn't imagine getting an Oscar in the future (for example because he ended his carrer a long time ago).When we mention the number of times we have done something, The Present Perfect is ok, like in these sentences:I have seen my doctor twice this week.I have already read this book two times.In the sentences 1 and 2 we later add the information when it exactly took place (the Past Simple should be used) but I don't think it modifies the previous sentence implying that the Past Simple should be used (I even got)To sum up, I think that both sentences are correct with a slight difference in meaning.. I will be grateful for your confirmation.. Thank you in advance for your help.Kind regards.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

1. An elderly man is describing his life: I have had a great life:
I have played in many great films..I have won an Oscar two times... The first one I received in 1990 and the second one in 1995.

2. I have had a great life..I have played in many great films..I won an Oscar two times... The first one I received in 1990 and the second one in 1995.

I think in the first version the man is assuming that he can still get an Oscar in the future, whereas the second version means that he doesn't imagine getting an Oscar in the future.

I do not agree. He is just recalling his past. There is no difference in meaning.

Anonymous · Answer

Coincidence1. I have had a great life..I have played in many great films..I even got an Oscar two times... The first one I received in 1990 and the second one in 1995.

Here is my take in reference to your sentence scenario. In everyday life and conversation, using persent perfect in every "perfect" scenario can sound very stiff, although it may be grammatically correct. That being said, " I have had a great life...." is excatly my earlier point. It sounded heavy. From a fluency and natural standpoint, this will be what I would say: " I have a great life. I had played many great roles in my career. I even won two Oscars in 1990 and 1995 respectively." Simple past in the "Oscar " part is correct because you already accepted the Oscar years ago.

Coincidence · Answer

Yes, I see but this sentence comes from grammar exercises for students..

As The Present Perfect is used to describe life experience (connects the past and the present) I think it could also be used in this sentence (up to now I've got this award twice and maybe I will receive it again in the future), as in:

I have been to China twice. (I'm not saying when it exactly took place; maybe I will go again one day..)
I have been abroad five times in my life.

Thank you.
Regards

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I have been to China twice.

Let's put this into a couple of narratives.

1. I have been to China twice. But I did not get to see the Great Wall or the famous Terracotta Warriors. I'd love to go back, so I'm saving up for another trip..

2. I have been to China twice. Both times I got very sick from the pollution and was ripped off in the tourist traps. I'll never go back again.

There is no idea or hint in the stand-alone sentence if the action will or will not happen again.

Coincidence · Answer

Yes.. I see..it's just that in the theory of the Present Perfect they often imply that the action may happen again, but it's more in sentences containing 'this month', 'this week' :
I've been to the shops twice this week. (the week is not over and maybe I will go again).

Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

CoincidenceI have been to China twice

CoincidenceAs The Present Perfect is used to describe life experience (connects the past and the present) I think it could also be used in this sentence (up to now I've got this award twice and maybe I will receive it again in the future), as in:

I have been to Disnayland 10 times in my life. The message this perfect sentence projecting is, as I speak, I visted Disneyland 10 times in the past. I probably don't want to see Mickey for a long time. So this may not suggest future visits. This form of perfect usage is common. Contrary to the Oscar scenario, the perfect construct to me is unnecessary, and it doesn't suggest any possibility of winning another Oscar.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CoincidenceI've been to the shops twice this week. (the week is not over and maybe I will go again).

There is no hint of a repeat.

I've been to the shops twice this week, and exhausted my monthly shopping budget. I need to stay away from the shops until after the first.

I've been to the shops twice this week, and don't need anything else. You can go, but I'll take a raincheck.

Anonymous · Answer

CoincidenceI've been to the shops twice this week. (the week is not over and maybe I will go again).

Ok, this is food for thoughts. Present perfect besides the typical grammar book explanation, it has also a property which is a statement of experience ( which suggests inclusion of immediate present).

John recently has a string of unpleasant events happened to him. He has lost his job where he worked for 15 years. He wife also has filed for divoice, and the bank has foreclosed his house. Notice that I used all perfect construct in this passage. However, the perfect did not suggest ( as you believed ) that John expects all these bad events will repeat in the future. They are just statements of what happened from a point of past to the relative present time.

Present Perfect/ Past Simple

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