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Anonymous Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

use of time marker "today" in present perfect BE

I was asked today to look at the following sentence:

"It's quite useful, just as the English class we have had today."

To my mind, the second part should be past simple and not present perfect, because "today" was used, but also because the class is now over and there is no indication that it will continue today.

However, I was then asked if there are instances when specific time markers can be used with present perfect in cases when they respond to the time when the action took place i.e. the lesson was today and today is still not finished.

Any suggestions what the correct use is and why?

Thanks!

Montana
  

Top answer

" To my mind, the second part should be past simple and not present perfect, because "today" was used, but also because the class is now over and there is no indication that it will continue today. I remember present perfect is fine with today, especially when we refer to something that already occurred but whose effect is still felt. And, it is common knowledge that present perfect is used for past actions whose effect is felt now.

— Vsuresh

  • " To my mind, the second part should be past simple and not present perfect, because "today" was used, but also because the class is now over and there is no indication that it will continue today.
  • I remember present perfect is fine with today, especially when we refer to something that already occurred but whose effect is still felt.
  • And, it is common knowledge that present perfect is used for past actions whose effect is felt now.
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4 Answers
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AnonymousIt's quite useful, just as the English class we have had today." To my mind, the second part should be past simple and not present perfect, because "today" was used, but also because the class is now over and there is no indication that it will continue today.
I remember present perfect is fine with today, especially when we refer to something that a
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If yet you were in your classroom present perfect is correct , since it was continuing and not ended . but simple past refers to an action which was taken place in the past and is over.
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AnonymousAny suggestions what the correct use is and why?
Though vsuresh has already replied to your question, I'd like to put in my two cents.

Yes, we could, in my view, use the present perfect simple tense with the time references or expressions of time which indicate an unfinished period of time; with time references that are
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LaboriousIn your example, "It's quite useful, just as the English class we have had today.", the speaker wants to relate something (which he/she is referring to as 'quite useful' now to the English lesson they had today). He/she wants to create some sort of relation or connection between the past (earlier today) and now.
And the relation or connection that the
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