Spocik  +  323026 Thu, 01 Feb 07 10:19 PM The following information is taken from: http://web2.uvcs.uvic.ca/elc/studyzone/410/grammar/ppvpast.htm The present perfect is used when the time is not specific: I have seen that movie already. (We don't know when.) The simple past is used when the time is clear: I saw that movie on Thursday. (We know exactly when.) The present perfect is often used when giving recent news: Martin has crashed his car again. (This is new information.) The simple past is used when giving older information: Martin crashed his car last year. (This is old information.) ------------------------------------------------ My question is: Which of the above tenses should be used to tell about past action, that needs no time specifying? I just want to tell about something that took place in the past, no matter how long ago. Perhaps both are fine, but I need assurance. Thank you in advance. Spocik Joined on Sun, Oct 8 2006 Poland New Member 38 Grammar, Tenses, Present Perfect, Simple Past, Present Simple

	Dominik  +  323031 Thu, 01 Feb 07 10:35 PM  Spocik wrote:  The present perfect is used when the time is not specific: I have seen that movie already. (We don't know when.) Sam sobie odpowiedziales. Gdy podaje się dokladna date - stosujemy czas przeszly prosty (Past simple). Jesli zdarzenie nastapilo w przeszlosci, ale nie wiadomo dokladnie kiedy lub nie ma to znaczenia, mozna uzyc Present Perfect. He won the competition in 2000. Wygral ten konkurs  w 2000r. He has won the competition unassisted. Wygral ten konkurs samodzielnie. Drugie zdanie sugeruje ze osoba wygrala ostatni konkurs. Często zalezy to od kontekstu. Jesli mowisz o sprawie nie mającej związku z chwila obecna wiadomo ze nie uzyjesz Present perfect tylko Past simple. W Present Perfect zawsze jest związek z terazniejszością. Jesli chcesz wyeksponować zwiazek terazniejszosci z przeszłoscia posluzysz sie wlasnie czasem Present perfect, jesli nie to past simple. I lost my wallet. Zgubilem portfel (kiedys) I have lost my wallet. Zgubilem portfel (i nadal go nie mam) Pozatym Amerykanie czesto uzywaja Past simple zamiast Present Perfect. Dominik Joined on Thu, Jun 1 2006 Poland Regular Member 580 "Start by doing what's necessary; then do what's possible; and suddenly you are doing the impossible." - St. Francis of... Dates, Present Perfect, Past Simple, Present Simple

	Clive  +  323076 Fri, 02 Feb 07 03:06 AM Hi Dominik, I'm interested in what your answer was, but unfortunately I don't speak Polish. Is it possible for you to provide an English translation of things you write, next time? That way, other people on the Forum can learn from and comment on your ideas. Best wishes, Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,583 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Present Simple, Translation

	Spocik  +  323164 Fri, 02 Feb 07 10:01 AM I wish he provided us with an English version. His explanation is clear and quite interesting, makes things clear. Thank you Spocik Present Simple

	Dominik  +  323181 Fri, 02 Feb 07 11:15 AM Hi, Clive It's high time you learnt Polish. But seriously, my English isn't very good so it was easier for me to write it in Polish. Generally it can be said that: If you give the date you use Past Simple If things happened in the past but you don't know exactly when or it doesn't make any difference when, you can use Present Perfect. The Present Perfect is a present tense. It always tells us something about now.  If you want to  emphasize the connection with NOW you use Present Perfect. If you don't want, use Past Simple. Do not use the present perfect if there is no connection with the present (for example things that happened a long time ago) I lost my wallet. (I lost it in the past. We don't know if he/she has it now) I have lost my wallet. (I don't have it now and for example I can't by a present for my girlfriend) Besides, Past Simple is often used instead of Presnet Perfect in AmE. Regards Dominik Dominik Dates, Tenses, Present Perfect, Present Tenses, Past Simple, Present Simple