0
Anonymous9n4 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Present Perfect vs Past Simple
I have to fill in the blank in the extract below.
Tom: Have you heard the news about David?
Harriet: No. (what/happen)?
I put in what has happened and I guess that's the only possibility. However, suppose the extract was
Tom: Have you heard the news about David? He has had an accident.
Harriet: Really? (what/happen)?
It seems to me that what happened should be used here. So what do you think? Note that the exceprt is from a British English grammar book.
Tom: Have you heard the news about David?
Harriet: No. (what/happen)?
I put in what has happened and I guess that's the only possibility. However, suppose the extract was
Tom: Have you heard the news about David? He has had an accident.
Harriet: Really? (what/happen)?
It seems to me that what happened should be used here. So what do you think? Note that the exceprt is from a British English grammar book.
Top answer
Do the directions tell you to use the present perfect? If the directions for the exercise don't specifically say you should fill it in with the present perfect, then yes, either could be used. What happened?
- Do the directions tell you to use the present perfect?
- If the directions for the exercise don't specifically say you should fill it in with the present perfect, then yes, either could be used.
- What happened?
- What has happened?
- What's happened?
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Do the directions tell you to use the present perfect? If the directions for the exercise don't specifically say you should fill it in with the present perfect, then yes, either could be used.
What happened?
What has happened?
What's happened? (using a contraction for what has)
These would all be correct, but it depends on what the directions for the exercise t
What happened?
What has happened?
What's happened? (using a contraction for what has)
These would all be correct, but it depends on what the directions for the exercise t
00
motor_angelTom: Have you heard the news about David?No! The standard exchange is this:
Harriet: No. (what/happen)?
I put in what has happened and I guess that's the only possibility.
- Have you heard the news ...? (Is this piece of information something you know already?)
- No. What happened? (No.
00
Related Questions