Recently/ PP or Past simple
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Message de ccbern posté le 01-05-2016 à 16:11:45 (S | E | F)
Hello everybody,
Please, help: I would like to know what tense I must use with recently.
Some days ago I asked a question to a webmaster: " have you recently changed your Java version, because trading platform doesn't work any more".
I've received my answer, but in addition the webmaster has corrected my sentence in: "Did you change your Java version recently?".
I was very surprised with this answer: when the action is close to the present, present perfect shouldn't it be used instead of preterite?
I would like to know the rule in this case.
Thank you very much for your answer.
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Modifié par lucile83 le 01-05-2016 16:35
Message de ccbern posté le 01-05-2016 à 16:11:45 (S | E | F)
Hello everybody,
Please, help: I would like to know what tense I must use with recently.
Some days ago I asked a question to a webmaster: " have you recently changed your Java version, because trading platform doesn't work any more".
I've received my answer, but in addition the webmaster has corrected my sentence in: "Did you change your Java version recently?".
I was very surprised with this answer: when the action is close to the present, present perfect shouldn't it be used instead of preterite?
I would like to know the rule in this case.
Thank you very much for your answer.
-------------------
Modifié par lucile83 le 01-05-2016 16:35
Réponse: Recently/ PP or Past simple de gerondif, postée le 01-05-2016 à 16:31:38 (S | E)
Hello,
You are complaining because of something that happened a few days ago, in the past, something which is finished, over. The webmaster might have said:
I changed my Java version last month, a few days ago, recently. The action is over. Recently pins the action in the past.
If you say: I saw him two minutes ago.(Je l'ai vu il y a deux minutes) ago forces you to use the preterite and there is no other meaning to the sentence. It is already a memory from the past.
If you say: I have just seen him! je viens de le voir, then you mean: It is not too late, if you hurry, you may catch him back and give him that important document you wish to give him.
It is all a question of point of view, not a question of how many minutes separate the action from the present time.
The present perfect is often used with frequency adverbs: never, ever, it's the first time, sometimes, already, often, always, regularly.
Recently is more an adverb of time, like two days ago....
Now which tense should you use with recently:
It depends on your point of view:
If it is a memory from the past: I recently saw "Titanic" again.
If you decide to insist on the consequences that stretch into the present, you might decide to "override" recently:
I have recently decided to eat less in order to lose weight and so I don't buy cakes any more not to be tempted.
Réponse: Recently/ PP or Past simple de ccbern, postée le 01-05-2016 à 16:37:53 (S | E)
Hello Gerondif,thank you so much for your clear explanation.
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Modifié par lucile83 le 01-05-2016 16:39
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