What's the last movie you've seen?

LOL! I am also in confusion about these.

I'd bet on numbers 1,2 and 4. They all seem correct to me, not sure about possible differences...

EDIT: And don't forget that «what's» may mean «what was»...

Hi Koyeen

You may not appreciate my opinion a lot as I'm a native speaker of Finnish but I see nothing wrong with any one of your suggestions.

CB

KooyeenHi,
what should I say? I got confused... I don't know what verb tense to use with "last" anymore. I'm having these doubts all of a sudden!

What's the last movie you've seen?
What's the last movie you saw?
What was the last movie you've seen?
What was the last movie you saw?

Thank you

Only the third one is rough on the ear! It has a main clause establishing the past point of view. Then, without any reason for it, the subordinate clause goes into the present point of view.

CJ

Ant: 's cannot represent was. was is never contracted. Ever.

CJ

Hello everybody,
First, I’ve learned that there are basically three uses for present perfect tense:

1. experience – I have seen that movie.
The action or state in the past; but in my head, I have a memory now

2. change – I have bought a house
Last week I did not have a house; now I do.

3. Continuous situation – I have known her since

I understand perfectly. Thank you all.

Hi Hoa Thai,

Obviously, we have different views in the specific use present perfect. To me "what was the last movie [you have seen]" just sounds unnatural. If the context is about a movie, I would just simple say "what was the last movie you saw?". If you had seen it, it already took place. No need to express it in present perfect in my opinion. It is like ask

Dear Goodman,

I can see your argument.

Your example is about 'time', which could be either specific (simple past

Hoa Thai:
«However, the movie's title is ever-lasting.»

But the action of watching it is not. The verb "see" expresses this action.

Ant_222Hoa Thai: «However, the movie's title is ever-lasting.» But the action of watching it is not. The verb "see" expresses this action.

Dear Ant,

As you said, because the seeing action is not, the speaker can use 'saw' for specific or 'have seen' for non-specific time indication.

When I hear "What is the movie?" or "What was the movie?