I'd never gotten a package this big.

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Kooyeen

#375305 Tue, 05 Jun 07 01:01 PM

Hi,
I just received a package:
Wow, what a huge package! I've never gotten a package this big.

I have to use the present perfect even though I actually have a big package now. I just got it. And even though I just got it, I can't say "I'd never gotten a package this big" (past perfect).

Now the question is, when should I switch to the past perfect? After 5 minutes? After I have opened the package? After 15 minutes, commenting on the package? Definitely the following day, right?

I'd never gotten a package this/that big. (this that could depend on weather you still have the package in front of you, maybe...)

Thank you Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (3,968)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

Peaceblinkfriend

#375312 Tue, 05 Jun 07 01:38 PM

Hi Kooyeen,

I am not sure about when you should use the past perfect or present perfect but if I were you, I would say 'I've never received a package this big (before)!' Smile [:)]

Best wishes,

PBF

Peaceblinkfriend

Joined on Wed, May 9 2007

Australia

Contributing Member (1,566)

Yankee

#375319 Tue, 05 Jun 07 01:51 PM

Hi Kooyeen

In the example given, I don't think I'd be likely to use the past perfect with the word 'this'. The word 'this' carries a sense of nearness whereas 'that' suggests distance. Therefore, 'this' works better with the present perfect ("nearness" in time/something directly tied to the present situation). 'This' is also more likely to be used when you have the package right in front of you and this spacial nearness would also tend to lead people to use the present perfect -- whether it's minutes after receiving the package or days after.

Otherwise, as to when people might change over to the past perfect, that is not likely to happen within minutes, and the present perfect may well be used for days afterward, depending on the speaker's point of view.

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,157)

Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain

Past perfect, Present perfect

Kooyeen

#375371 Tue, 05 Jun 07 03:54 PM

Hi Amy,
thank you so much. I'm starting to understand that much depends on other things, "this" or "that" for example.

Yankee wrote:
'This' is also more likely to be used when you have the package right in front of you and this spacial nearness would also tend to lead people to use the present perfect -- whether it's minutes after receiving the package or days after.

Otherwise, as to when people might change over to the past perfect, that is not likely to happen within minutes, and the present perfect may well be used for days afterward, depending on the speaker's point of view.

You mean that...
I've been posting in this forum for more than a year, but I could still say "This forum is great. I've never seen a forum so helpful.", instead of "This forum is great. I'd never seen a forum so helpful."?
And if I added some context and changed my point of view, I could say "This forum is great. I still remember the first day I posted here. I had never seen a forum so helpful."...

All this stuff about the present and past perfect started to confuse me after I found out that the following conversation was ok:
- Why don't you buy Amy some red roses?
- Oh, I hadn't thought of that.

The explanation I got was "I hadn't thought of that (before you told me)". And that was told just a few seconds before... So I thought, why can't I say "I'd never gotten a package this big (before you gave it to me)"?
Thank you again Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Conversations, Past perfect, Present perfect