0
LChi Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Verb tenses are confusing
I've been studying English for many years now but I still haven't perfected using verb tenses yet. Here are some of my sentences with simple to complex verb tenses.
I have had a kitten once but he died.
(What I meant: The speaker did own a kitten in one point of his life but unfortunately, the kitten died.)
I had been a member of the tennis club in Singapore before Norma told me to join swimming club instead.
(What I meant: Norma (speaker's sister) insists that the speaker disobeys her by joining the tennis club instead of the swimming club. The speaker therefore explains that she was already a member of the said tennis club before Norma told her about the swimming club thing.)
I will have cooked the dinner when Daniel calls me.
(What I meant: The speaker has been cooking dinner everyday and must finish it before her husband Daniel arrives from work. Daniel's call is an early warning he's close to home. The speaker wants to have cooked the dinner before her husband calls her.)
Note: You may also correct my "What I meant" statements. Thanks in advance!
I have had a kitten once but he died.
(What I meant: The speaker did own a kitten in one point of his life but unfortunately, the kitten died.)
I had been a member of the tennis club in Singapore before Norma told me to join swimming club instead.
(What I meant: Norma (speaker's sister) insists that the speaker disobeys her by joining the tennis club instead of the swimming club. The speaker therefore explains that she was already a member of the said tennis club before Norma told her about the swimming club thing.)
I will have cooked the dinner when Daniel calls me.
(What I meant: The speaker has been cooking dinner everyday and must finish it before her husband Daniel arrives from work. Daniel's call is an early warning he's close to home. The speaker wants to have cooked the dinner before her husband calls her.)
Note: You may also correct my "What I meant" statements. Thanks in advance!
Top answer
Hello, LChi—and welcome to English Forums. Thank you for registering as a member. ) There is no need for present perfect in that sentence.
- Hello, LChi—and welcome to English Forums.
- Thank you for registering as a member.
- ) There is no need for present perfect in that sentence.
- " (or something similar).
- The question asks about the experience, but your answer (using 'once', a past time point) would be more natural in simple past.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
Hello, LChi—and welcome to English Forums. Thank you for registering as a member.
LChiI have had a kitten once but he died.(What I meant: The speaker did own a kitten in one point of his life but unfortunately, the kitten died.)There is no need for present perfect in that sentence. We presume that it was preceded by the question, "Have you ever had a kitten?"
00
Thank you! 
So, when should I use perfect tenses? Or should I just stick with past tense and sequence markers?
So, when should I use perfect tenses? Or should I just stick with past tense and sequence markers?00
The uses of present perfect are manifold, as you probably already know, and too various to go into here. You can find many explanations online or in your text, but it does take a lot of observation and practice to choose the mot juste.
On the other hand, past perfect can usually be dispensed with, as it has only two uses: ( 1 ) to clarify the order of two past actions that are not otherw
On the other hand, past perfect can usually be dispensed with, as it has only two uses: ( 1 ) to clarify the order of two past actions that are not otherw
00
Related Questions