simple past vs present perfect

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Yankee

#442570 Wed, 14 Nov 07 05:45 PM

Hi Barb

I've had some difficulties posting this morning, too. So far mainly just sluggishness, though.
I also noticed a thread in which mine was the only response, but the thread is listed as having 2 responses. Tongue Tied [:S]

Maybe one or more of your lost posts is floating around in some as yet undiscovered dimension of cyberspace. Surprise [:O]

Yankee

Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006

Connecticut, USA

Senior Member (4,102)

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

Simple past

Grammar Geek

#442575 Wed, 14 Nov 07 05:51 PM

Like those socks that disappear from the dryer?

Grammar Geek

Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (15,288)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Simple past

Yankee

#442601 Wed, 14 Nov 07 06:23 PM

YES! lol

Have you seen any of mine by any chance? Smile [:)]

Yankee

Simple past

CalifJim

#442636 Wed, 14 Nov 07 07:49 PM

I tried to respond about five times, agreeing that in negation and in questions, we do use simple past, and that I was thinking of affirmative statements. I kept getting an error message and my original, better post was lost.

Did you try this yet? Smile [:)]

Before hitting the post button.
1. Highlight and copy your post.
2. Hit POST.
3. If the system gives you "Unable to serve your request":
      3a. Go back two screens to the post you were answering.
      3b. Refresh the screen.
      3c. Check to see if your post came through. (It may have in spite of the error.)
      3d. If the post didn't come through:
             3d1. Hit Reply again.
             3d2. Paste your copied post.
             3d3. Hit POST.

Repeat step 3 until you finally get through.

I have had to repeat this process regularly for years. I'm surprised that you seem to see this happen so seldom.

CJ

CalifJim

Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004

California

Veteran Member (16,549)

"There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

Negations, Simple past

Grammar Geek

#442638 Wed, 14 Nov 07 07:54 PM

I have certainly started to highlight and copy before hitting post, but I have not gone back two screens to refresh. Good idea. I just go back one screen and paste and post. Sometimes it works and sometimes I get the message about not allowing duplicate posts.

Maybe it's only something that happens as you approach the five-digit mark Smile [:)]

Grammar Geek

Simple past

Kooyeen

#442639 Wed, 14 Nov 07 07:57 PM

Yankee wrote:
Have you forgotten sentences such as "Jeet yet?"

I've seen that in the book I read, the one about American pronunciation. Ann Cook wrote: "Jeet yet?" - "No, nah chet" Wink [;)]

PS: I usually have no problems when I post.

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (3,833)

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

Pronunciation, Simple past

CalifJim

#442644 Wed, 14 Nov 07 08:10 PM

<<Do average Americans make a clear distinction between the simple past and present perfect Yes. or is it only for professors, teachers, journalists, and the like? No, not just for academics.

I know that they use simple past with YET and ALREADY...when they should use the present perfect. Am I missing something...Where language is concerned, we are all missing a lot most of the time. It's a very complex topic. Am I only seeing the tip of an iceberg? Like the rest of us, you probably are. Smile [:)] >>

The tenses mean the same things whether it's British or American English. It's just that Americans (It may be a cultural difference) tend on average to see events as definitely past when the British may feel that they still have relevance for the present. The choice, remember, is often not a matter of "one is correct; the other incorrect", but "which tense communicates best what's in my mind at this moment of speaking?"

Nevertheless, there are many situations -- possibly the majority -- where the same tense (past or present perfect) is chosen by all speakers of English, regardless of which variety of English they speak.