YSchneider  +  553320 Sun, 10 Aug 08 07:20 PM Hi guys,  I've been thinking about this for quite some time. Many people from US companys often aswer me in the present perfect like: Thank you, I've received your e-mail OR Yves, I've spoken to my boss and he...or Yves, I've forwarded your mail to our finance department and it will be processed soon! Am I wrong or would you use simple past at least in spoken english? Like: Thank you, I got you mail(I received your mail) or Yves, I spoke to my boss and he said...  What's your opinion on this? YSchneider Joined on Thu, Aug 7 2008 New Member 21 Simple Past, Present Perfect

	Yankee  +  553328 Sun, 10 Aug 08 07:39 PM YSchneider “Thank you, I've received your e-mail OR Yves, I've spoken to my boss and he...or Yves, I've forwarded your mail to our finance department and it will be processed soon!” Hi YSchneider It sounds like someone might have told you that Americans hardly ever use the present perfect, and that you are now noticing that that just isn't true. Am I right? Anyway, to answer your question, yes, it is also possible to use the simple past tense in the sentences you posted.  Personally, though, I think I'd prefer the present perfect. By the way, is you name Yves? Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,500 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Tenses, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Tenses

	YSchneider  +  553338 Sun, 10 Aug 08 08:36 PM Yes, my name is Yves. and Yes you're right I thought that Americans they won't use present perfect that much! You said that you'd also prefer the present perect? Could explain me why? Because for me there is now reason to assume I should use the present perfect. I mean let's think about it. I've spoken to my boss.. it certainly happened in the past and probably even some time ago(not right before) also I cannot feel that the present is affected like: The weather has changed! = the weather is diffrent now (I feel also the same about I've received and so on) Can you try to explain this to me? Thanks!!! YSchneider Present Perfect

	Huevos  +  553340 Sun, 10 Aug 08 09:11 PM  If it is the present perfect used after an action, ("I have eaten" for example), the reason it is used is because the action has caused a state that is still current (present). A: Do you fancy going out for lunch? B: No thanks. I'm not hungry. I have already eaten. Huevos Joined on Tue, Mar 25 2008 Regular Member 626 British Native Present Perfect

	Yankee  +  553366 Sun, 10 Aug 08 10:12 PM Hi Huevos That probably wasn't the best example to give because, in the US, you're just as likely to hear "No, thanks.  I already ate." Yankee

	YSchneider  +  553367 Sun, 10 Aug 08 10:14 PM So Yankee what would make you choose the present perfect in the mentioned sentences? What's your feeling on that? YSchneider Present Perfect

	Yankee  +  553372 Sun, 10 Aug 08 10:40 PM Hi Yves I'd say there are a couple of reasons for my (personal) preference of the present perfect in the examples you gave earlier: 1. The past activities I'm mentioning in the email probably took place extremely recently, and the fact that I'm currently writing about those very recent events provides an extremely direct and clear connection to the present and me. 2.  Precisely when I spoke to my boss or precisely when I forwarded you mail is not important.  It is only important THAT those things were done.  As I said in my last post, however, I can also imagine an American using the simple past tense. To give you a different sort of example, imagine that someone shot the US president.  I cannot imagine any American running around and giving people the news by saying "The president has been shot!"  Instead, I would expect the simple past tense:  "Hey!  Did you hear?  Some yahoo shot the president!" Yankee Tenses, Simple Past, Present Perfect, Past Tenses