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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
What's the difference between...
I read that book before and I've read that book before.
When do you know how to use 'have' in a sentence?
When do you know how to use 'have' in a sentence?
Top answer
Don't use have if you mention a definite time. For example, you can not use have like this: *I have read that book yesterday. *I have read that book last month.
- Don't use have if you mention a definite time.
- For example, you can not use have like this: *I have read that book yesterday.
- *I have read that book last month.
- *I have read that book when I was very young.
- before is not a definite time so either of your two sentences is correct.
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2 Answers
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Don't use have if you mention a definite time.
For example, you cannot use have like this:
*I have read that book yesterday.
*I have read that book last month.
*I have read that book when I was very young.
before is not a definite time so either of your two sentences is correct.
CJ
For example, you cannot use have like this:
*I have read that book yesterday.
*I have read that book last month.
*I have read that book when I was very young.
before is not a definite time so either of your two sentences is correct.
CJ
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In British English I can't think of circumstances in which you could say I read that book before. I read means at some moment in the past I did it. You could say I read that book before going on holiday.
I have read that book before would be barely literate, in my view, though some people might say it: you'd be more likely to say I have already read that book
I have read that book before would be barely literate, in my view, though some people might say it: you'd be more likely to say I have already read that book
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