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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
The present perfect
Hello!
I was reviewing some of the previous threads, and I came across one that dealt with a subject I am confused about.
The use of present perfect - does it matter whether the answer is affirmative or not? I will give an example:
1) My name is, believe it or not, Wazoo.
1) Oh, I have heard of such a name before (not had).
2) My name is, believe it or not, Wazoo.
2) Oh…I have never heard of such a name before.
My teacher told me that in #2 the reply should be "I had never heard", because it is in the negative. But he is a not a native Eng. speaker and I think the present perfect should be used in both. I've never seen this rule written anywhere. Could you please comment? Thanks. Tariko
I was reviewing some of the previous threads, and I came across one that dealt with a subject I am confused about.
The use of present perfect - does it matter whether the answer is affirmative or not? I will give an example:
1) My name is, believe it or not, Wazoo.
1) Oh, I have heard of such a name before (not had).
2) My name is, believe it or not, Wazoo.
2) Oh…I have never heard of such a name before.
My teacher told me that in #2 the reply should be "I had never heard", because it is in the negative. But he is a not a native Eng. speaker and I think the present perfect should be used in both. I've never seen this rule written anywhere. Could you please comment? Thanks. Tariko
Top answer
The present perfect denotes completed action from the reference point of right now; the past perfect denotes completed action from a reference point in the past. When you say 'I have never heard of such a name," you mean before right now, when you met Wazoo. " Your reference point is still the time you met Wazoo, but it's a day later, and that point is now in the past.
- The present perfect denotes completed action from the reference point of right now; the past perfect denotes completed action from a reference point in the past.
- When you say 'I have never heard of such a name," you mean before right now, when you met Wazoo.
- " Your reference point is still the time you met Wazoo, but it's a day later, and that point is now in the past.
- " So you are right that the negative has nothing to do with it.
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3 Answers
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The present perfect denotes completed action from the reference point of right now; the past perfect denotes completed action from a reference point in the past.
When you say 'I have never heard of such a name," you mean before right now, when you met Wazoo. So you don't need to say "before," which here means "before now."
Tomorrow, you say "I had never heard of such a name befo
When you say 'I have never heard of such a name," you mean before right now, when you met Wazoo. So you don't need to say "before," which here means "before now."
Tomorrow, you say "I had never heard of such a name befo
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AnonymousMy teacher told me that in #2 the reply should be "I had never heard", because it is in the negative.No, both are fine. Some might argue that 'had' should be used because the other person has just said the name, but that is nit-picking and not likely to occur to a native speaker, who would say 'have/haven't'.
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Guys, okay, thank you, I understood.
So in the following:
Statement: "He is crazy!"
1. a. "Really, huh? I had never thought that before."
1. a. "Really, huh? I have never thought that before."
2. a. "Well, I had thought the same thing, actually."
2. a. "Well, I have thought the same thing, actually."
Are all answers correct?
T
So in the following:
Statement: "He is crazy!"
1. a. "Really, huh? I had never thought that before."
1. a. "Really, huh? I have never thought that before."
2. a. "Well, I had thought the same thing, actually."
2. a. "Well, I have thought the same thing, actually."
Are all answers correct?
T
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