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Are both possible? If yes, is there a difference?I did not workout today.I have not worked out today. Thanks.

Philip · Accepted Answer

The basic difference is the reference to time. I did not work out today (plain and simple fact). I have not worked out today (implies that there is still the possibility that I will.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI did not work out today. I have not worked out today.

Yes, both are possible and there is a difference.

You have asked the same question enough times that by now you should be able to explain the difference yourself. Want to give it a try? You may want to reread all the answers you've been given on the same topic before answering. It will be a good review.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Yes, I am impressed that you know who I am, and that I have asked it several times. But I was not sure if the word 'today' would work with both the simple past and present perfect. That was my confusion.

Let me give it a try and answer what you taught me

I did not work out today: is in the past and anytime in the day before the present moment.

I have not worked out today: is in the past and anytime in the day till the present moment and may indicate that I am planning to work out soon.

What do you think?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhat do you think?

Pretty good. But I think you were influenced by Philip's answer.

AnonymousI did not work out today: is in the past and anytime in the day before the present moment.

Yes. But in addition to that, it would imply that there is a time of day that you work out, and this time has passed. You didn't work out during this usual time.

AnonymousI have not worked out today: is in the past and anytime in the day till the present moment and may indicate that I am planning to work out soon.

I'm not so sure about plans to work out soon, but that certainly is a possibility, though if you were really planning to work out later that day, you would probably add "yet". I haven't worked out yet today. Also, you can say I haven't worked out today at a minute before midnight, when there is no time in the day left to work out, so the part about having plans isn't absolutely necessary.

Any other thoughts on what might be different? Have we talked about 'events' and 'states'? Have we talked about 'time gaps'?

CJ

By the way, you can improve your English by getting used to writing words like didn't and haven't instead of always spelling out did not, have not.

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you for your advice teacher.

Yes; when using the simple past, didn't, the event may be any time in the past and we can specify the specific time in the past. However, when using the present perfect, haven't, the event is some point in the past up to the present moment and we can't specify the specific time of the event.

What do you think?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhat do you think?

What you wrote is correct.

CJ

Philip · Answer

AnonymousYes, I am impressed that you know who I am,

Have you ever considered registering here? It really is a good idea, for a number of reasons.

Anonymous · Answer

That's great. Thanks teacher <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/5.gif' alt='Emotion: wink'/>

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousI did not work out today. I have not worked out today.Yes, both are possible and there is a difference.You have asked the same question enough times that by now you should be able to explain the difference yourself. Want to give it a try? You may want to reread all the answers you've been given on the same topic before answering. It will be a good review.CJ

Teacher I originally asked this because I know that with the present perfect the specific time or past should not be stated, such as yesterday, last week, last month, which is possible with the simple past. So I was not sure about the use of the word 'today' with the present perfect. Is there a reason as to why it is possible to be used with the present perfect? Is it an exception?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI was not sure about the use of the word 'today' with the present perfect. Is there a reason as to why it is possible to be used with the present perfect? Is it an exception?

Yes. With the present perfect 'today' means 'so far today' or 'today until the moment I'm saying this' or 'since this day began'.

CJ

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