present perfect question

Question

Hi, I was practising simple past and present perfect from the english page website. The text is about history of computers and I used simple past in this sentence, and that is wrong:
"Many computer users ___________ (get, also) got on the Internet and ____________ (begin) communicating with other computer users around the world"
So, why is the "have also got" and "have begun" correct?

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

It depends on the context. We cannot say from that one sentence which tense is appropriate.

Mister Micawber · Answer

smarko1983 I used simple past in this sentence, and that is wrong:

It isn't wrong if the sentence refers to past history.

smarko1983why is the "have also got" and "have begun" correct?

It's correct if the sentence refers to recent past or past otherwise related to now.

Smarko1983 · Answer

Here is the whole paragraph:

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change) a great deal. The first computers (be) simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not) much memory and they (be, not) very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) very little. Most computers (be) separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

Times (change) . Computers (become) powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create) a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) on the Internet and (begin) communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

Mister Micawber · Answer

smarko1983Here is the whole paragraph:

And what were your answers throughout?

Smarko1983 · Answer

Here they are:

Since computers were first introduced to the public in the early 1980's, technology (change) has changed a great deal. The first computers (be) were simple machines designed for basic tasks. They (have, not) did not have much memory and they (be, not) were not very powerful. Early computers were often quite expensive and customers often (pay) paid thousands of dollars for machines which actually (do) did very little. Most computers (be) were separate, individual machines used mostly as expensive typewriters or for playing games.

Times (change) have changed. Computers (become) have become powerful machines with very practical applications. Programmers (create) have created a large selection of useful programs which do everything from teaching foreign languages to bookkeeping. We are still playing video games, but today's games (become) have become faster, more exciting interactive adventures. Many computer users (get, also) have also got on the Internet and (begin) have begun communicating with other computer users around the world. We (start) have started to create international communities online. In short, the simple, individual machines of the past (evolve) have evolved into an international World Wide Web of knowledge.

Fivejedjon · Answer

smarko1983Many computer users (get, also) have also got on the Internet and (begin) have begun communicating with other computer users around the world.

I think you chose the correct forms throughout the text. In the specific sentence you asked about (above). I don't think the past simple is wrong but, without specific past-time reference, the present perfect is, in my opinion, more natural.

present perfect question

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions