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Insano Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Present perfect usage (has cost)
Hello!
I've a problem with the following sentence. I don't know why the Present Perfect tense is used there. What rule makes us use the present perfect in this sentence? Cannot we just use the Simple Present?
"The problem is that people don't think. They go rushing off in their cars to save five pence on a bag of potatoes, and forget that it has cost them £2 in petrol to get there."
Thanks for your answers.
Regards,
insano
I've a problem with the following sentence. I don't know why the Present Perfect tense is used there. What rule makes us use the present perfect in this sentence? Cannot we just use the Simple Present?
"The problem is that people don't think. They go rushing off in their cars to save five pence on a bag of potatoes, and forget that it has cost them £2 in petrol to get there."
Thanks for your answers.
Regards,
insano
Top answer
insano The problem is that people don't think. They go rushing off in their cars to save five pence on a bag of potatoes, and forget that it has cost them £2 in petrol to get there. Yes, you can also use simple present or simple past.
- insano The problem is that people don't think.
- They go rushing off in their cars to save five pence on a bag of potatoes, and forget that it has cost them £2 in petrol to get there.
- Yes, you can also use simple present or simple past.
- Your sentence describes habitual behavior.
- The present perfect in your "that" clause suggests that on a case-by-case basis, they don't realize that it has just cost them X, in the very recent past.
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3 Answers
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insanoThe problem is that people don't think. They go rushing off in their cars to save five pence on a bag of potatoes, and forget that it has cost them £2 in petrol to get there.Yes, you can also use simple present or simple past.
Your sentence describes habitual behavior. The present perfect in your "that" clause suggests that on a case-by-case basis,
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Hi,
Can you explain the difference between these two sentences below:-
1) However, it cost 200 million USD.
2)However, it has cost 200 million USD.
Are both sentences right?
Thanks for helping.
Sue
Can you explain the difference between these two sentences below:-
1) However, it cost 200 million USD.
2)However, it has cost 200 million USD.
Are both sentences right?
Thanks for helping.
Sue
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1) is simple past, indicating a completion at a specifiable point in the past.. You can combine it with time expressions:
It (buying one strawberry popsicle) cost 200 million back in 1980.
2) seems to be a present perfect sentence of "until now" variant, meaning that whatever "it" is, it may rack up more.
It (buying strawberry popsicles) has cost us 200 million so far;
It (buying one strawberry popsicle) cost 200 million back in 1980.
2) seems to be a present perfect sentence of "until now" variant, meaning that whatever "it" is, it may rack up more.
It (buying strawberry popsicles) has cost us 200 million so far;
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