Tenses
A: Can you help me?
B: No.
------------ 5 minutes later
C: Did you say you were going to help him?
B: I didn't because he has never helped me in his life.
------------ 10 years later
C: Did you say you were going to help him?
B: I didn't because he had never helped me in his life.
What's the difference? Why does the present perfect work better in the first example?
Top answer
Necrophagist What's the difference? Why does the present perfect work better in the first example? Because it is unlikely that he has helped you in the last five minutes, but he evidently helped you in the last ten years.
- Necrophagist What's the difference?
- Why does the present perfect work better in the first example?
- Because it is unlikely that he has helped you in the last five minutes, but he evidently helped you in the last ten years.
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NecrophagistWhat's the difference? Why does the present perfect work better in the first example?
Because it is unlikely that he has helped you in the last five minutes, but he evidently helped you in the last ten years.
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