Why simple past tense is used more frequently for some verbs instead of present perfect?
I am more inclined to use present perfect tense (instead of simple past tense) for the actions/events that happens in recent past, making connection to the present. (Like mostly used in British English, for example I would say "I've dropped my pencil" instead of "I dropped my pencil")
However when it comes to some verbs I realized that I always prefer simple past tense.
Here is a sentence I used today:
"I've found a solution. However I thought you already knew it"
In this context "finding solution" and "thinking if he knows" are subsequent actions just seconds before the time of speaking, however why "have found" but not "have thought"? Indeed "thinking if he knows" is even more recent past than "finding solution".
Similarly I always use "came to my mind" not "has come to my mind"
There are very few hits on internet search for present perfect use of such verbs related with cognitive activity compared to simple past.
I am not a native English speaker. Can you please explain reasoning behind such use?
Input from native British English speakers will be more than appreciated! Thanks!
Top answer
Hi With regard to the sentence you give, the clause at the end has to be simple past: - I've found a solution. However I thought you already knew it. As you say in your first paragraph, the past perfect is used when the verb can be true up to and beyond the present.
- Hi With regard to the sentence you give, the clause at the end has to be simple past: - I've found a solution.
- However I thought you already knew it.
- As you say in your first paragraph, the past perfect is used when the verb can be true up to and beyond the present.
- However, that doesn't seem to be so with "thought" in your example.
- The sentence seems to say something like "I didn't think I would need to tell you the solution because you knew it already.
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Hi
With regard to the sentence you give, the clause at the end has to be simple past:
- I've found a solution. However I thought you already knew it.
As you say in your first paragraph, the past perfect is used when the verb can be true up to and beyond the present. However, that doesn't seem to be so with "thought" in your example. The sentence seems to say something
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