Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

Question

A.  I received an award last year.  That summarized all the contributions I made to my previous employer.B.  I received an award last year.  That has summarized all the contributions I made to my previous employer.C.  I received an award last year.  It was a summary of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.D.  I received an award last year.  It has been a summary of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.1.  Which of the sentences above are correct?2.  If both are correct in each set, what is the difference in meaning between them?3.  Is the present perfect possible in the given context that it was an award received last year and it refers to contributions made in the past to the previous employer?4.  Which is the best option to say for an interview?5.  By the way, am I correct to have written 'was' in bold in #3?  Or should it be 'is'?  Which would you write?  Please explain if there's any difference in meaning.6.  Also, which is correct between "contributions made to..." or "contributions made for..."?7.  Can I also say for above "contributions I have made to my previous employer" instead of "contributions I made..."?  What is the difference?Sorry for asking so many questions.  I really want to learn correct grammar and meanings of tenses used in my sentences.  I would really appreciate your assistance, please.  Thanks.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Your choice of words is not correct.

An award is not a summary. An award does not summarize anything.

I would simply say I received an award from my employer last year for my outstanding work.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you for your suggested sentence. Of course, it's much better.
However, for the purpose of understanding correct tense usage and meaning, could you please share your thoughts on my questions below. I have changed 'summarized' and summary' to 'proved' and 'proof', respectively. I hope they are now fine.

A. I received an award last year. That proved all the contributions I made to my previous employer.
B. I received an award last year. That has proved all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

C. I received an award last year. It was a proof of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.
D. I received an award last year. It has been a proof of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

1. Which of the sentences above are correct?
2. If both are correct in each set, what is the difference in meaning between them?

3. Is the present perfect possible in the given context that it was an award received last year and it refers to contributions made in the past to the previous employer?
4. Which is the best option to say for an interview?
5. By the way, am I correct to have written 'was' in bold in #3? Or should it be 'is'? Which would you write? Please explain if there's any difference in meaning.

6. Also, which is correct between "contributions made to..." or "contributions made for..."?
7. Can I also say for above "contributions I have made to my previous employer" instead of "contributions I made..."? What is the difference?
8. In C and D, is "a" before "proof" correct? I'm not sure if it's countable.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I don't want to get involved in details if the basic sentences are worded incorrectly or poorly.

I would definitely avoid the word 'proof'. As soon as you start talking about 'proving' your contributions, it will just make the employer start to wonder why you feel you need to talk about proof. In other words, it raises doubts about your contributions.

In terms of an interview, just stick to stating the facts. The interviewer will understand that an award means you made outstanding contributions. Interviewers are not stupid.

If you wish, reword and post again.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you, again, for your response. I see your point. Hmm, I'd really like to use the same sentences to learn the meaning of tenses. What about if I change them to "represented" and "representation", respectively, this time? If they are still poorly worded, any suggestions for the same sentences? I badly want to learn this, please.

A. I received an award last year. That represented all the contributions I made to my previous employer.
B. I received an award last year. That has represented all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

C. I received an award last year. It was a representation of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.
D. I received an award last year. It has been a representation of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

1. Which of the sentences above are correct?
2. If both are correct in each set, what is the difference in meaning between them?

3. Is the present perfect possible in the given context that it was an award received last year and it refers to contributions made in the past to the previous employer?
4. Which is the best option to say for an interview?
5. By the way, am I correct to have written 'was' in bold in #3? Or should it be 'is'? Which would you write? Please explain if there's any difference in meaning.

6. Also, which is correct between "contributions made to..." or "contributions made for..."?
7. Can I also say for above "contributions I have made to my previous employer" instead of "contributions I made..."? What is the difference?
8. Is the article "a" before the word "representation" correct? I'm not sure if "representation" is countable here?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Thank you, again, for your response. I see your point. Hmm, I'd really like to use the same sentences to learn the meaning of tenses. What about if I change them to "represented" and "representation", respectively, this time? If they are still poorly worded, any suggestions for the same sentences? I badly want to learn this, please.

Not a good word choice, again. You could use 'recognize' with an award. Let me change hese words, and then look at your questions.

A. I received an award last year. That recognized all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

B. I received an award last year. That has recognized all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

C. I received an award last year. It was a recognition of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

D. I received an award last year. It has been a recognition of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

1. Which of the sentences above are correct? They are all correct grammar.

2. If both are correct in each set, what is the difference in meaning between them?

You are talking about an event at a specific point in the past. just use Simple Past.
Use Present Perfect when you are talking about something iat an unspefified time in the past that has an impact on the present situation.

In other words, the recognition ocured at the time you received the award. So, use simple past.

3. Is the present perfect possible in the given context that it was an award received last year and it refers to contributions made in the past to the previous employer? No. See comment above.

4. Which is the best option to say for an interview? None of these, as I commented in my original post.

5. By the way, am I correct to have written 'was' in bold in #3? Or should it be 'is'? Which would you write? Please explain if there's any difference in meaning. Neither is wrong, but I prefer 'was'. The focus is on the past, in my opinion.

6. Also, which is correct between "contributions made to..." or "contributions made for..."? For an employer.

But it's till an awkward phrase. Normally one speaks of making contributions to work, eg to a project, to a task, to the development of . . .'

7. Can I also say for above "contributions I have made to my previous employer" instead of "contributions I made..."? What is the difference? 'Made'. Focuses more on the past.

8. Is the article "a" before the word "recognition" correct? Yes I'm not sure if "recognition" is countable here?

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you so much for your suggestion of "recognized/recognition" and for explaining your answers to my questions one by one for me to understand the meaning of these tenses. I really appreciate your assistance and patience.

So, A and C in simple past are the correct choices in the given context since I'm talking about an event that happened in the past, but then again, for an interview, your original suggestion is the better option because I believe yours is concise and straight to the point.

A. I received an award last year. That recognized all the contributions I made to my previous employer.
C. I received an award last year. It was a recognition of all the contributions I made to my previous employer.

Now I know which tense to choose when writing similar sentences. Again, thank you, Clive.

Simple Past vs. Present Perfect

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