[etni] Re: a grammar question
- From: Bari Nirenberg <bnirenberg@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: Leo.Selivan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Wed, 11 Jan 2012 18:39:56 +0200
I disagree -- I don't think the present perfect would be correct here. I
read the article (on Tuesday) and then I put it on my desk. I'm sure I put
it on my desk, but it's not there now. The present perfect should show
some kind of connection to the present, but if the article isn't on my desk
now, then the act of putting it there some time in the past is not relevant
to the present. The "I'm sure" here is irrelevant to the tense of the verb
"put". It's clearer in this sentence: "I'm sure I put the article on my
desk yesterday, but it's not there today."
Bari
On Wed, Jan 11, 2012 at 16:05, <Leo.Selivan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> I would use the Simple Past but if someone used the Present Perfect it
> would not be considered a mistake. There are many cases when either can
> be used and attempts to find cut and dried rules would often be futile.
>
> Where does this come from anyway?
>
>
>
> LEO
>
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> From: ETNI list <etni.list@xxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Sun, 8 Jan 2012 14:00:40 +0200
> Subject: [etni] Fwd: a grammar question
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: lura dosa <luradsa@xxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: a grammar question
>
> Hello..
>
> I have a question about the Present Perfect and I hope someone will help
> me.
>
> I know that when the time of the past action is specified, the Past
> Simple is used. But what about this:
>
> " On Tuesday, I _____________ (read) an article which I _____________
> (think) would be suitable for my biology paper. I'm sure I
> _______________ (put) the article on my desk. I ______________ for it
> all over the house but ____________ it yet."
>
> Should 3 be Present Perfect or Past Simple? I know from the context
> that the putting happened on Tuesday, but also the effect "I'm sure"
> is present, so what to choose?
>
> Thanks for your help:)
>
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