http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3616.28671)http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442646Mon, 25 May 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442646CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442646http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442646.xmlMaybe it's only something that happens as you approach the five-digit mark Surely you jest. You don't look a day over three digits! CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442644Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442644CalifJim1http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442644http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442644.xml&lt;&lt;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. &gt;&gt; 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...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442639Wed, 25 Mar 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442639Kooyeen2http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442639http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442639.xmlYankee 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" PS: I usually have no problems when I post.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442638Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442638Grammar Geek3http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442638http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442638.xmlI 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 markhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442636Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442636CalifJim4http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442636http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442636.xmlI 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? 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...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442601Mon, 25 May 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442601Yankee5http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442601http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442601.xmlYES! lol Have you seen any of mine by any chance?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442575Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442575Grammar Geek6http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442575http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442575.xmlLike those socks that disappear from the dryer?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442570Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442570Yankee7http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/2/bqrwx/Post.htm#442570http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442570.xmlHi 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. Maybe one or more of your lost posts is floating around in some as yet undiscovered dimension of cyberspace.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442561Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442561Grammar Geek8http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442561http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442561.xmlI 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. I'm giving up now and just writing this.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442554Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442554Goodman9http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442554http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442554.xmlGrammar Geek wrote: Because with words like "should" - realize that how English is used will vary, without one being wrong and one being right. It seems that Americans are more likely to use simple past when either would do, but the present perfect is alive and well. So, that said, where have you heard simple past used with "yet"? It would sound quite odd to my ears. Especially beacause "yet" is often used in the negative: I haven't seen that movie yet . How can you have possible heard that used in the simple past? I ain't saw that movie yet? Does simple past with already sound so odd to everyone? I already fed the dog today; don't give him more food now. Hi Barb, &lt;&lt;where have you heard simple past used...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442498Mon, 25 May 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442498Yankee10http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442498http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442498.xmlBarb, we use 'yet' quite often with the simple past tense -- in interrogative and negative sentences. Have you forgotten sentences such as "Jeet yet?" ( Did you eat yet? )http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442494Mon, 25 May 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442494Grammar Geek11http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442494http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442494.xmlBecause with words like "should" - realize that how English is used will vary, without one being wrong and one being right. It seems that Americans are more likely to use simple past when either would do, but the present perfect is alive and well. So, that said, where have you heard simple past used with "yet"? It would sound quite odd to my ears. Especially beacause "yet" is often used in the negative: I haven't seen that movie yet . How can you have possible heard that used in the simple past? I ain't saw that movie yet? Does simple past with already sound so odd to everyone? I already fed the dog today; don't give him more food now.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442425Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442425Magic7912http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442425http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442425.xmlSorry Cali for using the wrong pronoun. Thanks Grammar. So my discourse grammar thing was not quite right and both simple past and past perfect can be used depending on whether we know when or whether it was pretty recent or relevant. It's all about how we percieve the distance and relevance of the verb "ordered." I have a question: Do average Americans make a clear distinction between the simple past and present perfect or is it only for professors, teachers, journalists, and the like? I know that they use simple past with YET and ALREADY...when they should use the present perfect. Am I missing something...Am I only seeing the tip of an iceberg?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442265Sat, 25 Apr 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442265CalifJim13http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442265http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442265.xml... her his help. &lt;&lt; Are the books we ordered/have ordered used by any other university here? Simple past or present perfect or both with different meanings ? It seems to me that discourse grammar forces the use of "have ordered" because the question is in the present and the following phrase "we have ordered" that describes the books should be in the present too. No, not necessarily; the verb order is in a subordinate clause describing the books. The use of the books by other universities can be a present state of affairs even though the books were ordered years ago. Compare: The people we met last week are now waiting in the lobby of the hotel. &gt;&gt; To my ear the present perfect is actually...http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442146Sun, 25 Jan 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442146Grammar Geek14http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442146http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442146.xmlFor me, when you use the present perfect, it shows that the action is quite recent. If you ordered those books a year ago and they have been on your shelves for 10 months, the use of present perfect is clearly incorrect. If you just placed the order, or if you ordered them, but they haven't arrived yet, then "have ordered" works as well as simple past.http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442127Wed, 25 Feb 2009 20:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:442127Magic7915http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htm#442127http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-442127.xmlCali has always given lucid explanations and I am very indebted to her help. I have a question here not so much about sentence level but about discourse level. First, look at this sentence: Are the books we ordered/have ordered used by any other university here? Simple past or present perfect or both with different meanings? It seems to me that discourse grammar forces the use of "have ordered" because the question is in the present and the following phrase "we have ordered" that describes the books should be in the present too. I asked an American teacher and he chose the simple past "we ordered." It also seems to me as if both tenses work here. Any explanation?http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htmMon, 25 May 2009 19:34:08 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:162279Valentin1416http://www.englishforums.com/English/SimplePastPresentPerfect/bqrwx/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-162279.xmlCongratualtions for your explanations. There are clear and the best i've found. Vos explicatons sont les plus pédagogiques que j'ai pu trouver à ce jour et je tiens tout particulièrement à vous en rendre hommage. Gérard. Forum: New: Common English Questions and Answers - Archived Posts Posted: Oct 6, 6:46 AM Post Subject: Re: Simple past vs persent perfect Post author: CalifJim There is more than one difference between the simple past and the present perfect. The simplest difference is the grammatical difference that the simple past can be used with expressions which signify a definite, particular time in the past. I wrote a letter yesterday. I wrote a letter at 7 o'clock. I wrote a letter last Monday. I wrote a letter...