Which one is the best sentence?

[Jctgf]

Did your assistant tell you that I wasn't going/coming to your class today?

Did your assistant tell you that I couldn't go/come to your class today?

Have your assistant told you that I wasn't going/coming to your class today?

Have your assistant told you that I couldn't go/come to your class today?


Hi,
I am unable to go to my English class. Then I leave a message with the teacher’s assistant. A few hours later I run across the teacher on the street and I want to ask her if she'd got my message.
Which sentence above is the best one, please?
Thanks.

[Haihao]

#4 is the best, I think.

[Yankee]

Hi jctgf

First of all, just a small grammar note: your last two sentences need 'has' rather than 'have'.

Sentences 1 and 2 both work.
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I would not use sentences 3 or 4 -- I wouldn't combine the simple past tense with the present perfect that way.

I might use the present perfect this way, however:

- Has your assistant told you that I am not going/coming to your class today?
- Has your assistant told you that I can't go/come to your class today?
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_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Haihao]

Has your assistant told you that I can't go/come to your class today? -> I would like to reconfirm with you that I can't go/come to your class today.
Has your assistant told you that I couldn't go/come to your class today? -> I told your assistant I couldn't go/come to your class today but I have changed my mind.

IMO & M2C.

[Yankee]

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Where did you read about the person changing his/her mind, Haihao? :wink:
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Haihao]

Hi Amy,

I just suggested a possibility: If the speaker say it with 'couldn't' then he/she's likely changed his/her mind and can go now. If with 'can't' then the situation or his/her mind hasn't changed and he/she still can't go now. e.g.

Over the phone.

Student: Has your assistant told you that I couldn't go/come to your class today?
Teacher: Oh, yes, she told me that. What's the story?
Student: I was a kind of dizzy then but I am alright now. Actually I am calling to tell you I can come, sir.
Teacher: Good! Then hit the road!

Haihao

[Jctgf]

thanks a lot.
of course it's ''has'' instead of ''have''. my fault.
at to the verb, would you choose ''come'', ''go'' or any?
thanks again.

[Haihao]

Either would do. come = close on listener's side; go = on speaker's side.

[Yankee]

Hi Haihao

Are you still discriminating against sentences 1 and 2?
If so, why?
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Haihao]

Hi Amy,

Really a kick in the slats! :) I love it! :) No, Amy, I am not. I just felt I could only get a kick out of 3 and 4 and left 1 and 2 to stay where they were 'cause there would be no kick coming from them at all. :)

Haihao

[Yankee]

Sorry, Haihao, but I'm afraid I'm having difficulty understanding what you're getting at.

I mean, it sounds as if you're saying that you intentionally told jctgf that sentence 4 was the best although you actually thought it was the worst. :?
.
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln

[Haihao]

Sorry from me too, Amy, but let me sort it out like this:

a. 1 and 2 would work perfectly without question as long as they stand alone without any context.

b. Observing the original 4 sentences are supposed to be involved in some coversation such as I suggested above, I found #4 would be the best of all. Of course #1 and #2 would do their good jobs as well doubtlessly but #4 has more or less a better sense to lay emphasis on the student's conduct that she once reported to the assistant that she couldn't come whereas #2 is more or less emphasized on the assistant's conduct that she told the teacher or not. Once again, I would say 1 & 2 are perfect but 4 isn't the worst (at least as good as #2) to me under the above condition (conversation).

Haihao

PS. I also have to say my opinion is very personal and the difference between 2 and 4 is ambiguous even to myself.