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Latest post Mon, Aug 11 2008 9:25 PM by CalifJim. 4 replies.
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YSchneider  +  553628 Mon, 11 Aug 08 07:08 PM

Hi I need some help about a few more sentences, I'd just like to know what's more common in american enlish:

All the pictures I've taken are really bad! or All the pictures you took are really bad!

If you saw him please call me! or If have seen him please call me!

If you got hurt please tell me! or If you have gotten hurt please tell me!

and then finally a sentence I was asked from my examiner during a english exam, she asked:

What have you chosen? Isn't it more likely to be What did you choose?

Please just tell me your opinions! Thanks!!!
YSchneider
Joined on Thu, Aug 7 2008
New Member 21
Goodman  +  553638 Mon, 11 Aug 08 07:37 PM
Hi, the green ones are my answers:

All the pictures I've taken are really bad! or All the pictures you took are really bad!

If you saw him please call me! or If have seen him please call me!

If you got hurt please tell me! or If you have gotten hurt please tell me!

and then finally a sentence I was asked from my examiner during a english exam, she asked:

What have you chosen? Isn't it more likely to be What did you choose? Either one would work, depending on her frame of mind when she asked.

Simple past = just a simple answer of what you chose at the moment for an answer.
Present perfect = from the time you put the answer on the paper up to the time she asked you.

Goodman
Joined on Mon, Nov 7 2005
Senior Member 3,816
The name says it all!
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CalifJim  +  553658 Mon, 11 Aug 08 08:24 PM
Hi I need some help about with a few more sentences, I'd just like to know what's more common in Aamerican Eenglish:

All the pictures I've taken are really bad! or All the pictures you took are really bad!

If you saw him please call me! or If (you) have seen him, please call me!

If you got hurt please tell me! or If you have gotten hurt, please tell me!

and then finally a sentence I was asked from my examiner during a english exam, she asked:

What have you chosen? Isn't it more likely to be What did you choose? No.  She probably wanted to know the situation at that time, at the time the question was asked, and not before -- when you chose.

Note:  There are no differences in meaning between AmE and BrE (regarding these tenses).  The only differences are in usage, and these are extremely minor occasional differences, not at all worth obsessing over!  Smile

CJ 
CalifJim
Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004
California
Veteran Member 22,419
"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche
YSchneider  +  553669 Mon, 11 Aug 08 08:45 PM

Sorry about the mistakes I made before... was in kind of a hurry! Smile Really? Would you prefer the sentence: if you have gotten hurt, please tell me! then If you got hurt, please tell me! To me sounds kind of odd! If so what makes you chose that tense?
YSchneider
CalifJim  +  553689 Mon, 11 Aug 08 09:25 PM

YSchneider
“To me it sounds kind of odd!”
Then use the other one!  Nobody's going to notice any difference anyway!

The imperative can't influence anything in the past, so I associate a present tense, or a present perfect tense, with an imperative. 

You see, the simple past puts an imaginary wall between you and the event you're talking about.  The present perfect doesn't.  So if I want to command someone (please tell me!) I don't see any reason to put a wall between what happened (someone was hurt) and my command.  If I want to be told -- right this minute! -- about someone who is hurt -- exclamation mark and all -- then certainly it's because I think I can still do something to help the injured party.  This is not ancient history we're talking about!  Smile

Compare, noting the "wall" || :

Ken fell and hurt himself while he was out of town last week. || He's OK now.

Ken has fallen and hurt himself!  Quick!  Call a doctor! 

CJ 
CalifJim
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