I am confused with the use of present perfect in this sentence. Please explain the following two examples. Please eloborate it. Any additional examples will be helpful too.
1. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he NEVER SAW the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
2.Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he HAS NEVER SEEN the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
Please also help with this.
Someone made a comment: Wow ! This phone is very nice. Where did you get it ?
Which of my answer is correct : 1. Sam gave me this phone OR 2. Sam has given me this phone.
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- mridul12
- Samy
In the first choice, the entire sentence is in present tense, but "NEVER SAW" is in past tense.
Its not that the ocean disappeared (as indicated by the past tense) and then SAM was invited to see it in MIAMI.
In the second choice, present perfect is correctly used. Its an event that started in the past and continues into the present...he still does not have the view of the ocean.
The situation you have described occurs when a third person is asking you about the phone.
That situation is in present tense and the phone was given to you in the past by SAM.
Although choice 1: Sam gave this phone - is definitely correct.
My "guess" is the 2nd choice is also used often: In case the phone was given recently, you would say : Sam has given me this phone.
Its not that the ocean disappeared (as indicated by the past tense) and then SAM was invited to see it in MIAMI.
In the second choice, present perfect is correctly used. Its an event that started in the past and continues into the present...he still does not have the view of the ocean.
The situation you have described occurs when a third person is asking you about the phone.
That situation is in present tense and the phone was given to you in the past by SAM.
Although choice 1: Sam gave this phone - is definitely correct.
My "guess" is the 2nd choice is also used often: In case the phone was given recently, you would say : Sam has given me this phone.
- dbernst
- ManhattanGMAT Staff
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Mon May 09, 2005 9:03 am
Just to clarify Samy's comments, I will add a few of my own.
1. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he NEVER SAW the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
-INCORRECT. This example is incorrect because the use of the simple past saw indicates that Sam is sadly deceased. However, this contradicts the present tense is from the first sentence and the present tense come from the second, both of which indicate that Sammy is still living and breathing.
2.Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he HAS NEVER SEEN the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
-CORRECT. The use of the present perfect has seen indicates that, up to this point in his life, Sam has not had the opportunity to view the ocean. Present perfect is used for an action (or situation) that began at some point in the past and continues to the present moment.
Please also help with this.
Someone made a comment: Wow ! This phone is very nice. Where did you get it ?
Which of my answer is correct : 1. Sam gave me this phone OR 2. Sam has given me this phone.
-In this case, there was one specific point in time that this gift was presented to you. Thus, the simple past "gave" (sentence #1) is correct. A sentence in which "has given" is correct would have to include something that began in the past and continues right up to the present moment. For example, it would be grammatically proper to say This semester the professor has given me several warnings that I might fail her class.
Hope that helps
-dan
1. Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he NEVER SAW the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
-INCORRECT. This example is incorrect because the use of the simple past saw indicates that Sam is sadly deceased. However, this contradicts the present tense is from the first sentence and the present tense come from the second, both of which indicate that Sammy is still living and breathing.
2.Sam is from Colorado, which is hundreds of miles from the coast, so he HAS NEVER SEEN the ocean. He should come with us to Miami.
-CORRECT. The use of the present perfect has seen indicates that, up to this point in his life, Sam has not had the opportunity to view the ocean. Present perfect is used for an action (or situation) that began at some point in the past and continues to the present moment.
Please also help with this.
Someone made a comment: Wow ! This phone is very nice. Where did you get it ?
Which of my answer is correct : 1. Sam gave me this phone OR 2. Sam has given me this phone.
-In this case, there was one specific point in time that this gift was presented to you. Thus, the simple past "gave" (sentence #1) is correct. A sentence in which "has given" is correct would have to include something that began in the past and continues right up to the present moment. For example, it would be grammatically proper to say This semester the professor has given me several warnings that I might fail her class.
Hope that helps
-dan
3 posts Page 1 of 1