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Annvan Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
use present perfect?
Take this sentence, for example:
"The report is ready. I have just finished it half an hour ago."
Because a time in the past has been specified - should the past simple be used instead of the present perfect, i.e. "... I just finished it half an hour ago."
I assume the past simple could be used here in American English, but how about in British English?
"The report is ready. I have just finished it half an hour ago."
Because a time in the past has been specified - should the past simple be used instead of the present perfect, i.e. "... I just finished it half an hour ago."
I assume the past simple could be used here in American English, but how about in British English?
Top answer
Interesting point, because the time is really close to present. However, it seems there are no exceptions allowed. It seems that the BrE version is not using present perfect in this situation either.
- Interesting point, because the time is really close to present.
- However, it seems there are no exceptions allowed.
- It seems that the BrE version is not using present perfect in this situation either.
- See this British chat transcript, a quotation from seemingly a British lady: --------- yorkshirelass: I only finished it an hour ago and had to rush the last few pages.
- shtml --------- Also, I have finished it an hour ago is really rare at Yahoo: "I just finished it an hour ago" 169 hits "I've just finished it an hour ago" 1 hit
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4 Answers
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Interesting point, because the time is really close to present.
However, it seems there are no exceptions allowed.
It seems that the BrE version is not using present perfect in this situation either. See this British chat transcript, a quotation from seemingly a British lady:
---------
yorkshirelass: I only finished it an hour ago
However, it seems there are no exceptions allowed.
It seems that the BrE version is not using present perfect in this situation either. See this British chat transcript, a quotation from seemingly a British lady:
---------
yorkshirelass: I only finished it an hour ago
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Hi Annvan,
"The report is ready. I have just finished it half an hour ago."
Because a time in the past has been specified - should the past simple be used instead of the present perfect, i.e. "... I just finished it half an hour ago."
I assume the past simple could be used here in American English, but how about in British English?
Pre
"The report is ready. I have just finished it half an hour ago."
Because a time in the past has been specified - should the past simple be used instead of the present perfect, i.e. "... I just finished it half an hour ago."
I assume the past simple could be used here in American English, but how about in British English?
Pre
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I agree with Clive. What causes trouble is the use of "just" together with "half an hour ago". If you consider half an hour ago as "just now", use the Present Perfect without stating the time: "I've just finished it." (BrE)
With the Simple Past, you can move "just" to another position: "I finished it just half an hour ago." But that's a different "just".
With the Simple Past, you can move "just" to another position: "I finished it just half an hour ago." But that's a different "just".
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