Jimsefton2  +  351630 Mon, 16 Apr 07 06:19 PM Hi, I have been asked to form the following sentence into two sentences, one in present perfect and one in simple past: The milkman have accident monday I think its deliberately written to be confusing. In my mind I would say "The milkman have" rather than "the milkman had", but then that's not present perfect, is it? Please can somebody enlighten me as to whether this sentence can be written as they would like? Thanks in advance! Jim Jimsefton2 Joined on Mon, Apr 16 2007 New Member 04 Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Yoong Liat  +  351637 Mon, 16 Apr 07 06:28 PM  Jimsefton2 wrote: The milkman have accident monday Please can somebody enlighten me as to whether this sentence can be written as they would like? Thanks in advance! Jim The milkman met with an accident on Monday. The milkman has met with an accident. Yoong Liat Joined on Mon, Sep 4 2006 Veteran Member 6,757 Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Grammar Geek  +  351644 Mon, 16 Apr 07 06:44 PM Hi Jim, Generally, we don't use a specific time (on Monday) with the present perfect. Yoong Liat's setences are just fine, but if you want to stick with the verb "to have" then: The milkman had an accident Monday (simple past) The milkman has had an accident.  (But not: *The milkman has had an accident on Monday.) Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,650 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Verbs, Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Yoong Liat  +  351649 Mon, 16 Apr 07 06:58 PM Hi Jim "The milkman have ... "  Please note that 'have' is a plural verb. So, it should be "The milkman has ... " and "The milkmen have ... " Yoong Liat Verbs, Plurals, Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Jimsefton2  +  351665 Mon, 16 Apr 07 07:23 PM Thanks again (both of you) for your replies. I never was very good at accurate grammar. I guess the thing that tripped me up was trying to use al the sections of the sentence (i.e. Monday) when it was impossible Jimsefton2 Grammar, Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Yankee  +  351672 Mon, 16 Apr 07 07:38 PM Hi Jimsefton2 The milkman have accident monday This just looks like a group of "base words" -- not a sentence.  In other words, it looks like an exercise in which you have to write various sentences which include the words 'the milkman', the verb 'have', the word 'accident', and the word 'Monday'.  You could include the word Monday in a present perfect sentence this way, for example: The milkman has not had an accident since Monday. Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,491 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Verbs, Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Jimsefton2  +  351673 Mon, 16 Apr 07 07:46 PM Yes you're right with the base words, another example is: Miss Jones lost her car Thursday This is what I got... Miss Jones has lost her cat (present perfect) Miss Jones lost her cat on Thursday (simple past) Am I on the right track here? Thanks again! Jimsefton2 Simple Past, Present Perfect