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 Mon Jun 12, 2006 21:38 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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Hi Harry 
I would probably use the simple past tense in most cases. (American English)
You could use the present perfect this way:
Harry's friend: "What's new?"
Harry: "Well, I've dumped my girlfriend." *****
Harry's friend: "Really? Why?"
Harry: "Well, I saw her kissing another guy."
Harry's friend: "Really? Who was she kissing?"
Harry: "It was that guy who lives over on Elm Street."
Harry's friend: "You're kidding! That guy is ugly as sin!"
Harry: "You can say that again! I couldn't believe my eyes! But it was real! So I dumped her."
The point is:
Often you use the present perfect to begin talking about or introduce a topic. Then, when you go into the details, the conversation changes to the simple past tense.
NOTE:
***** In the USA, this sentence would probably also be in the simple past tense. (Well, I dumped my girlfriend.)
Amy |
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Yankee
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| Mon Jun 12, 2006 21:43 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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| Quote: | | "That use another word?" |
Amy, could you please tell the meaning and use?
Tom |
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Tom
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| Mon Jun 12, 2006 21:47 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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I used a slang word that means "stupid guy". But apparently the forum software doesn't allow it.  I've already edited the text. |
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Yankee
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| Tue Jun 13, 2006 15:44 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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| so if i am talking with somebody and i can use both of the sentences?right? (i have duped my girlfriend or i dumped my girlfriend) they are right? |
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Guest
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Yankee
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| Tue Jun 13, 2006 19:18 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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i had this problem while reading a book. One person says:"i dumped him" another one says : she's dithced him.
Are there any differences of meaning?
or it is only why i can use both of the times? |
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Guest
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Yankee
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Joined: 16 Apr 2006
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 0:12 am Present perfect vs simple past |
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| no i meant about the time....could you tell me why the american people uses the simple past so much? |
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Guest
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 6:53 am Present perfect vs simple past |
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Hi Guest
No, I can't explain why. Sorry. 
But please don't start thinking that the British never (or hardly) use the past tense. And please don't think that Americans never use the present perfect.
Amy |
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Yankee
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 12:33 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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| but have i to say for example:"she has given me the cd" if i say it to introduce the topic even if the thing i am talking was given me in the past? |
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Guest
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 14:59 pm Present perfect vs simple past |
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Hi Guest
As an American, I would most likely say "She gave me the CD".
But, where I would be more likely to use the present perfect would be in a sentence like this:
"She has given me a lot of CDs."
And then if the conversation continues and I talk about a specific CD or CDs (received from her), then I'd change over to simple past tense:
"I hated the last CD she gave me. I listened to it a few times, just to see if it would grow on me, but it didn't. So, I threw it away a couple of weeks ago."
As you can see, in the last few sentences there is no "time" or "when" specifically mentioned until you get to the last sentence.
The conversation is about the details of something in the finished past. Even before I get around to mentioning a specific time in the last sentence, I know that everything is finished and so that's exactly how I would say it. 
Here is a variation of the same conversation, with no specific time mentioned anywhere:
A: "She has given me a lot of CDs. I hated the last CD she gave me. I listened to it a few times, just to see if it would grow on me, but it didn't."
B: "Oh, well then, if you don't like it, can I have it? I love that band."
A: Sorry, I'm afraid I've (already) thrown it away."
(End of conversation.)
WHEN the CD was thrown away is not the least bit important. The only thing that's important is that the CD is now gone. This also has an effect on the present because the other person asks for but can't have the CD.
Amy |
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Yankee
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 15:20 pm Simple past vs. present perfect |
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you told me that if the sentence is the begin of the topic i should use the present perfect.....do you use the simple past to say it happened in the past?
if i say :"she's given me the cd" or " she's appointed me your public defender" are there any kind of differences of time can both of them be expressed with the two times |
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Guest
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 17:32 pm Simple past vs. present perfect |
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| Anonymous wrote: | | you told me that if the sentence is the begin of the topic i should use the present perfect..... |
No, that's when it is often used. And that's because it would simply establish the fact that something has happened (i.e., yes or no). And once we know that, then we would have a reason to continue with further, more detailed conversation about the event (or not).
In American English we very often simply start and continue with the past tense to talk anything that's completely finished.
The present perfect can also be used in other places and ways in a conversation. Present perfect can often depend very much on the conversation and/or the context. You have been giving me sentences without any context.
If you want further details about British usage, I'm afraid you'll have to wait for a native speaker of British English to answer.
| Anonymous wrote: | | do you use the simple past to say it happened in the past? |
Yes
| Anonymous wrote: | | if i say :"she's given me the cd" or " she's appointed me your public defender" are there any kind of differences of time can both of them be expressed with the two times |
If you say: "She's given me the CD" or " She's appointed me your public defender" I would understand the following:
1. Both happened in the past (probably the recent past)
2. It's probably the first time I've received the information (that it happened).
3. It's completely unimportant when it happened. The only thing that's important is that it happened at some unknown time before just now. (i.e., Has it happened? Yes or no. No further detail about the event.)
A speaker of American English would probably probably usually say "She gave me the CD." and it would mean exactly the same thing as "She's given me the CD.". The only difference is that the American is primarily looking at the action specifically as finished without finding it necessary to say or imply WHEN it happened.
We have been talking about only one specific way to use the present perfect. And it is primarily this particular usage where British and American usages differ somewhat. There are additional ways to use the present perfect. And don't forget, there is also the present perfect continuous.
I'm going to sign off on this thread. If you have more questions, maybe one of the others will be able to explain things better for you.
Amy |
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Yankee
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| Wed Jun 14, 2006 19:24 pm Present perfect vs. simple past |
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sorry do not does.......one last question.....if you come to somebody you don't know you say:"the court has appointed me your public defender " or "the court appointed me your public defender"? please answer me
hi fellas! |
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Guest
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| Expression: "just got back to my office this AM" | "say" at the end of some sentences |
