0
Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Use of present perfect
Hi,
I think we should try to use present perfect tenses whenever there is a need to denote present pertinence or the action has been completed almost near to now, and should refrain from using whenever you feel an urge to use it like here.
You all know or might have guessed that I have sent my resignation a few days ago.
I tend to use present perfect if there is even a slight indication of present pertinence and that is why I used present perfect here,but it came to my attention that this shouldn't be -- I should not use present perfect but should use past. If I used present perfect, would it say it is wrong? I think you would but I wonder what could be the reason. What is it?
I think we should try to use present perfect tenses whenever there is a need to denote present pertinence or the action has been completed almost near to now, and should refrain from using whenever you feel an urge to use it like here.
You all know or might have guessed that I have sent my resignation a few days ago.
I tend to use present perfect if there is even a slight indication of present pertinence and that is why I used present perfect here,but it came to my attention that this shouldn't be -- I should not use present perfect but should use past. If I used present perfect, would it say it is wrong? I think you would but I wonder what could be the reason. What is it?
Top answer
Basically, you shouldn't use the present perfect tense with a specific time reference: wrong: I have seen that movie yesterday right: I have seen that movie before/several times. wrong: I have had dinner with him last night/Tuesday evening right: I have had dinner with him on many occasions/several times in the past/often This is an over-simplification, but it holds true.
- Basically, you shouldn't use the present perfect tense with a specific time reference: wrong: I have seen that movie yesterday right: I have seen that movie before/several times.
- wrong: I have had dinner with him last night/Tuesday evening right: I have had dinner with him on many occasions/several times in the past/often This is an over-simplification, but it holds true.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
3 Answers
0
Basically, you shouldn't use the present perfect tense with a specific time reference:
wrong: I have seen that movie yesterday
right: I have seen that movie before/several times.
wrong: I have had dinner with him last night/Tuesday evening
right: I have had dinner with him on many occasions/several times in the past/often
This is an over
wrong: I have seen that movie yesterday
right: I have seen that movie before/several times.
wrong: I have had dinner with him last night/Tuesday evening
right: I have had dinner with him on many occasions/several times in the past/often
This is an over
00
Thank you. If I replaced the time word "a few days ago" with the word "already", would you say the use of present perfect is wrong? I think the use of present perfect is wrong, if not wrong and should be avoided. I think you should use past instead if you wanted to sound erudite. What do you think?
You all know or might have guessed that I have sent my resignationa few
You all know or might have guessed that I have sent my resignation
00
I have already sent my resignation - correct.
I have sent my resignation a few days ago - incorrect. As far as the use of the perfect tense is concerned, "a few days ago" is relatively specific.
I have sent my resignation a few days ago - incorrect. As far as the use of the perfect tense is concerned, "a few days ago" is relatively specific.
0
Related Questions