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Chompipe Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
special case of present perfect?
Hi everyone,
Can anyone explain to me why the following uses present perfect in one instance and past simple in the second half of the sentence.
I've just read the message and thought I should reply.
I understand why the first half is in present perfect, but why is the second half past simple?
I've just read ... (present perfect often used with "just", unspecified reference to time of a recent action)
am I correct to assume that
... and thought I should reply. (process of thinking "thought" is a completed action in the past?)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start edit: I've been thinking, could
"I have just read the message and thought I should reply."
be a short form of
"I have just read the message and have thought I should reply."?
Stop edit
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks in advance everyone,
chompipe
Can anyone explain to me why the following uses present perfect in one instance and past simple in the second half of the sentence.
I've just read the message and thought I should reply.
I understand why the first half is in present perfect, but why is the second half past simple?
I've just read ... (present perfect often used with "just", unspecified reference to time of a recent action)
am I correct to assume that
... and thought I should reply. (process of thinking "thought" is a completed action in the past?)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Start edit: I've been thinking, could
"I have just read the message and thought I should reply."
be a short form of
"I have just read the message and have thought I should reply."?
Stop edit
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thanks in advance everyone,
chompipe
Top answer
While it's true that, theoretically, the "I've" may be the element assumed to be retained in the second clause, I think your first impulse to say that the second clause is in the simple past is closer to the truth. Tenses are mixed quite often. There is not always a satisfying explanation for every possible combination in every possible context.
- While it's true that, theoretically, the "I've" may be the element assumed to be retained in the second clause, I think your first impulse to say that the second clause is in the simple past is closer to the truth.
- Tenses are mixed quite often.
- There is not always a satisfying explanation for every possible combination in every possible context.
- Sometimes people just change their point of view in the middle of an utterance.
- I would have said, "I just ...
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5 Answers
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While it's true that, theoretically, the "I've" may be the element assumed to be retained in the second clause, I think your first impulse to say that the second clause is in the simple past is closer to the truth.
Tenses are mixed quite often. There is not always a satisfying explanation for every possible combination in every possible context. Sometimes people just change their poi
Tenses are mixed quite often. There is not always a satisfying explanation for every possible combination in every possible context. Sometimes people just change their poi
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Thanks a lot CalifJim,
Your response was really insightful, I see it really depends on the context and how the meaning of the sentence is conveyed.
I've noticed that speakers of British English are very keen on differentiating between present perfect and past simple whereas speakers of American English simply tend to use past simple.
So, which is better, American
Your response was really insightful, I see it really depends on the context and how the meaning of the sentence is conveyed.
I've noticed that speakers of British English are very keen on differentiating between present perfect and past simple whereas speakers of American English simply tend to use past simple.
So, which is better, American
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Hi,
I'd just like to add a couple of comments.
First, So, which is better, American or British English? Canadian English, of course. We have the best of both worlds.
Secondly, as a very big generalization, I'd say that once native speakers have established a 'temporal point of view' by using a special tense, they tend to go back to simpler t
I'd just like to add a couple of comments.
First, So, which is better, American or British English? Canadian English, of course. We have the best of both worlds.
Secondly, as a very big generalization, I'd say that once native speakers have established a 'temporal point of view' by using a special tense, they tend to go back to simpler t
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So, which is better, American or British English?
Whichever one is being spoken by everyone around you where you live is the best.
Or, if you are not living in an English speaking country, the one you are most likely to travel to should be your cue.
CJ
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