ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: Please, help me with this question

CalifJim — Fri, 30 May 2008 19:25:15 GMT

Anonymous
'I have finished my work today.' How is it different from 'I finished my work today'?

Both are correct.

I have finished my work today. --- The state of having finished my work exists now.

I finished my work today. --- I did something earlier today.

Re: Please, help me with this question

Anonymous — Fri, 30 May 2008 12:19:40 GMT

Is the following sentence right? 'I have finished my work today.' How is it different from 'I finished my work today'?

Can we say that when we use today with the present perfect, we must refer to things that were started and finished today?

Thanks

Asher

Re: Please, help me with this question

CalifJim — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 23:17:31 GMT

Anonymous
... I have read a magazine * today ,how to explain that we don't use the Simple Past, but the Present Perfect tense here? Because the action of reading a magazine happened today, time is definite! ...

The present perfect shows indefiniteness with respect to time, yes. But you can restrict the indefiniteness with a since clause.

I have read a magazine since I saw you last.

today is a special adverb that can be used in place of a since clause with the present perfect, because (unlike adverbs like yesterday) it includes the moment of speaking:

I have read a magazine [since the beginning of this day / today].

Anonymous
... what's the difference between:

I read a magazine today. ... and I have read a magazine today. ...

The difference is subtle. The present perfect is conceptually a step removed from the real action of the simple past. The present perfect is indirect compared to the direct simple past.

I read a magazine today expresses what happened. It tells what I did directly.

I have read a magazine today expresses the existence of a state resulting from what happened. It tells what I have on my list of 'things done today'. It tells what I did, but only indirectly through the implication of what's on 'my list', which is what the sentence is really focusing on.

Re: Please, help me with this question

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:23:49 GMT

Hello, Goodman!

Thanks for your help.

Best wishes

Re: Please, help me with this question

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 19:21:54 GMT

Ok,Clive. Thank you very much.

Best wishes,

Anon

Re: Please, help me with this question

Goodman — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:58:29 GMT

Hi Anon,

Aside from Clive's explanation, may I offer you this scenario.
Picture this:

Itâs Saturday. You got up at 6 am this morning (completed simple past act)and itâs now 8 oâclock. You have been up for 2 hours studying for a test on Monday. (this condition still holds true at this time)

You read all your e-mails at 8:15 (completed) but you have not replied yet ( this act is pending but condition is true).

8:30 am -You felt hungry so you went to the kitchen (completed act)

You put 2 slices of bread in the toaster and made some coffee while reading in the kitchen. (completed)

Suddenly, the phone rang and you looked at the clock on the wall.(simple past & completed) Itâs now 9 am. It is Julie wanting to know if you are going to the beach with her as you promised yesterday (completed). You have just now remembered the date...

Re: Please, help me with this question

Clive — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:49:39 GMT

Hi,

The present perfect suggests this fact has some importance to the time of speaking.

The context is necessary to explain why this tense was chosen by the speaker.

Clive

Re: Please, help me with this question

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 15:07:39 GMT

Hi Clive,

Thanks for helping me. I understood your explanation. But, how to explain the difference between these two senteces without any context:

I read the magazine today .(simple past)

and

I have read the magazine today. (present perfect tense)

Plese, help me once more because I really need to understand this difference.

Thanks!!!

Re: Please, help me with this question

Clive — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 12:08:10 GMT

Hi,

An explanation, please. Present Perfect tense means past time related to present time and one of its uses is: an action that happened at an indefinite time in the past, e.g.: I have travelled to Athens. But in the sentence: I have read a magazine * today ,how to explain that we don't use the Simple Past, but the Present Perfect tense here? Because the action of reading a magazine happened today, time is definite!

In this sentence, the speaker is thinking of 'today' as an indefinite period. eg If he is speaking at 9pm, we dom't know at what definite time he read the magazine. Here's an example of a common kind of conversation.

Father: Have you done your homework today?

Son: Yes, I have.

Best wishes, Clive

Please, help me with this question

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:44:38 GMT

Hi!

2) So what's the difference between:

- I read a magazine today. (simple past tense)

and

- I have read a magazine today. (present perfect tense)

Thanks a lot!!!