What could be the diference between these two senctences

Question

I have never taken medications.I never took medications.

Grammar Glitch · Accepted Answer

The difference between these two sentences has to do with the TIME element involved. The first sentence, "I have never taken medications." is in the PRESENT PERFECT tense. It means that, as of this present moment, I have never taken medications. Other examples:

I have never seen an elephant fly. (As of today, right now, this hasn't happened, but it could in the future.)

Charlie has been my boyfriend for twelve years. (It's been twelve years, but Charlie is still, at this moment today, my boyfriend.)

Your second example sentence, "I never took medications." is a simple PAST TENSE statement. It means that, in the past you never took medications--with no reference to the present or the future. It does not suggest that, as of today at this moment, you are not taking medications. Here are some other examples:

In all the time that I lived in Africa, I never saw an elephant fly.

Charlie was my boyfriend for twelve years, but then I dumped him.

CalifJim · Answer

Read Grammar Glitch's answer carefully. Below you see two diagrams that illustrate the same ideas that she presented.

X = Now
B = The moment you were born.
[ ] = The time period during which you did not take medications.

Your
birth Now

[B.................................................X].................
I have never taken medications.

B.................[............]...................X..................
I never
took
medications.
(during some
period of time
not mentioned)

CJ

Picnic · Answer

Thank you Grammer Glith, i will read your post carefully.

CalifJim,

in your diagram of the present perfect:

Your
birth Now

[B.................................................X].................
I have never taken medications.

now, what i dont understand is that if present perfect refer to the preset why it is not like this:

Your

birth Now

[B.................................................X].................

I have never taken medications.

I mean that it has to be untill now, at the moment.

the other thing i dont understand is that the setnece contains the word "never" its never, not only in a certain time, but all the past

CalifJim · Answer

Picnic I have never taken medications.

I mean that it has to be untill now, at the moment.

Yes. The symbol ] shows the end of the period, and it's right next to the X, which is the moment you say the sentence. That's what the diagram means. Maybe the diagram isn't coming out correctly in your editor. ???

Picnicthe other thing i dont understand is that the setnece contains the word "never" its never, not only in a certain time, but all the past

If you say "I never took medications", we don't know what time period you are referring to. We just know that you have some time period in your mind and "never" means "never within that time period".

CJ

Picnic · Answer

Ohh ok, I see it now, yes its my mistake...

Have never taken means that never at all pasts?

CalifJim · Answer

PicnicHave never taken means that never at all pasts?

Yes.

CJ

Picnic · Answer

veyr helpful as always.
thanks

What could be the diference between these two senctences

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