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Wein Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Simple Past, Present Perfect or What Else?
It is said that if we mention the time of happening of a past act, simple past tense should be used; and if we mention something happened some time in the past which still has certain effect at present, then present perfect tense should be used. In this regard, I find it difficult to write a correct sentence if I want (1) to identify the time of happening on the one hand, and (2) to emphaize that the act has been carried out on the other.
None of the following seems satisfactory:
Option A) I sent the confirmation letter by post on March 3: grammatically correct but it misses out my emphasis on the completion of the act.
Option B) I have sent the confirmation letter by post: grammatically correct but it misses out the time of happening.
Option C) I have sent the confirmation letter by post on March 3: seems grammatically wrong but it truly reflects what I want to say (the dual intentions mentioned above).
In this case, how should I say?
None of the following seems satisfactory:
Option A) I sent the confirmation letter by post on March 3: grammatically correct but it misses out my emphasis on the completion of the act.
Option B) I have sent the confirmation letter by post: grammatically correct but it misses out the time of happening.
Option C) I have sent the confirmation letter by post on March 3: seems grammatically wrong but it truly reflects what I want to say (the dual intentions mentioned above).
In this case, how should I say?
Top answer
You have a misconception of which you must disabuse yourself before you can feel comfortable with Option A!!! The simple past is perfectly good at indicating the completion of an act! It's even very good at emphasizing completion.
- You have a misconception of which you must disabuse yourself before you can feel comfortable with Option A!!!
- The simple past is perfectly good at indicating the completion of an act!
- It's even very good at emphasizing completion.
- There is no requirement to use present perfect because an act is complete.
- If you sent the letter, it is sent.
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5 Answers
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You have a misconception of which you must disabuse yourself before you can feel comfortable with Option A!!!
The simple past is perfectly good at indicating the completion of an act! It's even very good at emphasizing completion. There is no requirement to use present perfect because an act is complete.
If you sent the letter, it is sent. You are absolutely finished sendin
The simple past is perfectly good at indicating the completion of an act! It's even very good at emphasizing completion. There is no requirement to use present perfect because an act is complete.
If you sent the letter, it is sent. You are absolutely finished sendin
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Ms/Mr Wein is correct in her/his assessment of the present perfect. Jim is also right that the simple past can be used. But in a letter, where one wants some degree of formality or if one wants to stress the importance of such an action, the present perfect is used more often than the simple past.
In order to achieve the result you seek, Wein, it is normally necessary to do this in two
In order to achieve the result you seek, Wein, it is normally necessary to do this in two
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Thank you.
Maybe, one of the solutions to take care of the "dual intentions" is to add an "already" in between, i.e.,
"I already sent the confirmation letter by post on March 3."
Maybe, one of the solutions to take care of the "dual intentions" is to add an "already" in between, i.e.,
"I already sent the confirmation letter by post on March 3."
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Personally, I wouldn't go that way. "already" is more typical with the present perfect. The two-sentence approach was a better idea.
CJ
CJ
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I wouldn't go that way either, Wein but for slightly different reasons. "I already sent" sounds too informal but more importantly for the sender, it sounds like the sending is being downplayed when what you seek is to make it sound important.
I also understand where Jim is coming from when he suggests that 'already' is more often used with the present perfect. The 'rule' suggests this s
I also understand where Jim is coming from when he suggests that 'already' is more often used with the present perfect. The 'rule' suggests this s
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