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Bamtori Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Present Perfect Question // "You have smelled my cakes!"
Please read the paragraph below:
He saw a man baking delicious cakes. "What a nice smell," the man said. Eating his bread, he breathed in the smell for some time. When he rose to continue his journey, the baker suddenly ran across the road and caught him. "Just a second!" the baker cried. "You have smelled my cakes. You must pay me for my cakes!"
Would anybody explain to me why the present perfect form was used in the sentence underlined, please? I'm guessing it has something to do with the result thing, because I read in some grammar books that the present perfect is used when the result of a past action remains in the present:
You have smelled my cakes. (Past Action) Cause
You must pay me for my cakes. (Result) Consequence
I would appreciate any explantions. Thanks so much!
He saw a man baking delicious cakes. "What a nice smell," the man said. Eating his bread, he breathed in the smell for some time. When he rose to continue his journey, the baker suddenly ran across the road and caught him. "Just a second!" the baker cried. "You have smelled my cakes. You must pay me for my cakes!"
Would anybody explain to me why the present perfect form was used in the sentence underlined, please? I'm guessing it has something to do with the result thing, because I read in some grammar books that the present perfect is used when the result of a past action remains in the present:
You have smelled my cakes. (Past Action) Cause
You must pay me for my cakes. (Result) Consequence
I would appreciate any explantions. Thanks so much!
Top answer
Bamtori I'm guessing it has something to do with the result thing I wouldn't take 'the result thing' too seriously in this case. In fact, if I were you, I would put that out of my mind completely. The baker could just as easily have said, "You smelled my cakes.
- Bamtori I'm guessing it has something to do with the result thing I wouldn't take 'the result thing' too seriously in this case.
- In fact, if I were you, I would put that out of my mind completely.
- The baker could just as easily have said, "You smelled my cakes.
- You have to pay me for my cakes".
- That would be a more casual wording.
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1 Answers
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BamtoriI'm guessing it has something to do with the result thingI wouldn't take 'the result thing' too seriously in this case. In fact, if I were you, I would put that out of my mind completely.
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