Simple past or Present perfect with today

Question

Please look at the following sentences and tell me the difference between them.

1. If you have met him today, then you must consider yourself lucky.

2. If you met him today, then you must consider yourself lucky.

Also,

3. Today, I've seen your friend talking to my neighbour.

4. Today, I saw your friend talking to my neighbour.

Thank you.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

deepuji Simple past or Present perfect with today

Simple past is almost always better.

Also, "today" doesn't often occur at the beginning of a sentence, so in 3 and 4 I'd move it to the end to make it sound more natural. Actually I should say "in 4" because 3 doesn't work anyway.

CJ

Deepuji · Answer

Thank you Jim sir. I won't use the 3rd construction

Could you please tell me in what circumstances do we use and

1. If you have met him today, then you must consider yourself lucky.

2. If you met him today, then you must consider yourself lucky.

Thank you.

CalifJim · Answer

deepujiCould you please tell me in what circumstances do we use and 1. If you have met him today, then you must consider yourself lucky.2. If you met him today, then you must consider yourself lucky.

Both are possible in the same circumstances. If it's still "today", you can use either one. But I think that's obvious.

CJ

Deepuji · Answer

Thank you Ji msir.

Could the difference between them be

I think the first one would mean that there is still a possibility of meeting him, whereas in the second one there is none. Right?

Thank you.

CalifJim · Answer

deepujiCould the difference between them beI think the first one would mean that there is still a possibility of meeting him, whereas in the second one there is none.

That might be a slight difference in some contexts, but I think the "if" tends to cancel that difference in the given sentence.

CJ

Deepuji · Answer

Jim sir please look at the following sentences and also the different possibilities

When we say

1. I have not seen John this week.------------- It means there is still a possibility that I may see him anytime this week.

2. I didn't see John this week.-------------------- It means there is no chance of seeing him, as it is almost the end of the week.

3. I saw John this week.---------------------------- It means I have already seen him. This may mean that I am either talking about this at the end week, or mid-week, but with the knowledge that I will no longer see him this week. Or can it also mean that I am telling a friend of mine what happened in the past, i.e., earlier this week and I may still see him this week? Is my interpretation right? If not, please correct my mistakes.

4. I have seen John this week.------------------ It means either that I have seen him already and there is chance of seeing him again, or could it also mean that I may not meet him again this week, but I have used present perfect to let the speaker know that I have seen him? Are there anymore different scenarios when using it with present perfect makes it different from the simple past tense? Please tell me.

Thank you.

Fivejedjon · Answer

In BrE, we use 'today' or 'this week' with a past tense, we consider these time periods to be in some way in the past. For example, I might use 'today' in the evening, thinking of my working day; I might use 'this week' at the weekend, thinking of my working week.

If we use these expressions with the present perfect, we are seeing these periods of time as not yet past.

CalifJim · Answer

deepujiI have not seen John this week. ... I didn't see John this week. ... I saw John this week. ... I have seen John this week.

You are digging way too deep. I don't know what is causing you to suffer such angst over this matter. There is nothing to prevent your seeing John again this week no matter which of these you use. These statements do not address that eventuality.

CJ

Simple past or Present perfect with today

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