0
Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Present perfect vs past perfect

Just think that I have never seen an elephent before. When I go to a zoo and see an elephant for the 1st time there, should I say "I haven't seen an elephant before" or "I hadn't seen an elephant before" in the meaning of "it is the 1st time that I have seen an elephant"?

I think I should say "I hadn't seen an elephant before" even while I am still looking at it, is that right?

Just think that I have been running for 2 hours and I have just stopped running. When I am asked what I am doing, should I say "I have been running for 2 hours" or "I had been running for 2 hours"?

I think I should say "I had been running for 2 hours" even when I have just stopped running, is that right?
  

Top answer

Anonymous I think I should say "I hadn't seen an elephant before" even while I am still looking at it, is that right? No. I haven't seen an elephant before.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous I think I should say "I hadn't seen an elephant before" even while I am still looking at it, is that right?
  • No.
  • I haven't seen an elephant before.
  • eg.
  • The next day you are telling your friends about your trip to the zoo.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

17 Answers
0
AnonymousI think I should say "I hadn't seen an elephant before" even while I am still looking at it, is that right?
No.
I haven't seen an elephant before.

eg.
The next day you are telling your friends about your trip to the zoo.
Yesterday, my family went to the zoo. I saw many animals I had never seen before, including lion
0
0
Thank you. Some time after looking at elephants, while I am still in the zoo, looking at other animals but no longer looking at elephants, can I say "I hadn't seen an elephant before" or should I still say "I haven't seen an elephant before"?

And, some time after stopping running, while my sweat-suit is still on me, I am still in running area & doing some physical exercise, can I say "I h
0
0
If you see an elephant for the first time, then at the time of speaking about this you should use the present perfect, here "I've never seen an elephant before." You may use "had seen" when talking about the past event which preceded another past event like in "I saw a big elephant yesterday in the zoo, I had seen even bigger one on my last safari trip in Kenya last year, though."
0
0
Thank you, but I am not still clear. What should I say some time after looking at elephants, while I am still in the zoo, looking at other animals but no longer looking at elephants, or later after finishing the zoo trip?

What should I say some time after stopping running, while my sweat-suit is still on me, I am still in running area & doing some physical exercise, or later after finishi
0
0
AnonymousThank you, but I am not still clear. What should I say some time after looking at elephants, while I am still in the zoo, looking at other animals but no longer looking at elephants, or later after finishing the zoo trip?
When you don't mention the time marking the past point in time, then you should use the present perfect tense. But if you mark the
0
0
Thank you. For example, think that I went to the zoo yesterday and I am telling my friends my trip today, how about the sentences below?

I have seen an elephant for the 1st time there.
I saw an elephant for the 1st time yesterday.
I hadn't seen an elephant until I saw one yesterday.
It was the 1st time that I had seen an elephant.
It was the 1st time that I saw an elephant
0
0
I have seen an elephant for the 1st time there. No.
I saw an elephant for the 1st time yesterday. Good.
I hadn't seen an elephant until I saw one yesterday. Good.
It was the 1st time that I had seen an elephant. Good.
It was the 1st time that I saw an elephant yesterday. No.
Yesterday was the 1st time that I saw an elephant. Good.
0
0
AnonymousFor example, think imagine that I went to the zoo yesterday and I am telling my friends my trip today, how about the sentences below?
I have seen an elephant for the 1st time there. No.
I saw an elephant for the 1st time yesterday. OK.
0
0
Thank you for your replies. How about "yesterday was the first time that I had seen an elephant"?

Note: Why first and why not 1st?
Note: Yes I is a Turkish character, I just wrote it by mistake because of my cell phone keyboard
0
0
AnonymousYesterday was the first time that I had seen an elephant.
This is also OK.
AnonymousNote: Why first and why not 1st?
0

Related Questions