Simple Past vs. Present Perfect for recently completed actions












1















In the following dialogue:




A: Look! I have bought a new hat.

B: Nice! Where did you buy it?




or




C. Nice! Where have you bought it?




Which is correct, b or c? Or both?










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  • Related: “Have you washed it” vs “Did you wash it”?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Also related (it's pure coincidence that I've posted an answer here, too) Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Are the solutions supplied by an English website correct?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Possible duplicate of Present perfect for past action with present effect

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago











  • 1. Does the present perfect imply an action finished in the past? 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago


















1















In the following dialogue:




A: Look! I have bought a new hat.

B: Nice! Where did you buy it?




or




C. Nice! Where have you bought it?




Which is correct, b or c? Or both?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.





















  • Related: “Have you washed it” vs “Did you wash it”?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Also related (it's pure coincidence that I've posted an answer here, too) Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Are the solutions supplied by an English website correct?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Possible duplicate of Present perfect for past action with present effect

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago











  • 1. Does the present perfect imply an action finished in the past? 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago
















1












1








1


1






In the following dialogue:




A: Look! I have bought a new hat.

B: Nice! Where did you buy it?




or




C. Nice! Where have you bought it?




Which is correct, b or c? Or both?










share|improve this question









New contributor




Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.












In the following dialogue:




A: Look! I have bought a new hat.

B: Nice! Where did you buy it?




or




C. Nice! Where have you bought it?




Which is correct, b or c? Or both?







questions present-perfect present-perfect-vs-simple-past






share|improve this question









New contributor




Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.











share|improve this question









New contributor




Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.









share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 17 hours ago









Mari-Lou A

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Check out our Code of Conduct.









asked 2 days ago









AnnaAnna

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61




New contributor




Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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New contributor





Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.






Anna is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.













  • Related: “Have you washed it” vs “Did you wash it”?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Also related (it's pure coincidence that I've posted an answer here, too) Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Are the solutions supplied by an English website correct?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Possible duplicate of Present perfect for past action with present effect

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago











  • 1. Does the present perfect imply an action finished in the past? 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago





















  • Related: “Have you washed it” vs “Did you wash it”?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Also related (it's pure coincidence that I've posted an answer here, too) Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Are the solutions supplied by an English website correct?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago













  • Possible duplicate of Present perfect for past action with present effect

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago











  • 1. Does the present perfect imply an action finished in the past? 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?

    – Mari-Lou A
    17 hours ago



















Related: “Have you washed it” vs “Did you wash it”?

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago







Related: “Have you washed it” vs “Did you wash it”?

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago















Also related (it's pure coincidence that I've posted an answer here, too) Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Are the solutions supplied by an English website correct?

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago







Also related (it's pure coincidence that I've posted an answer here, too) Present Perfect vs. Simple Past: Are the solutions supplied by an English website correct?

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago















Possible duplicate of Present perfect for past action with present effect

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago





Possible duplicate of Present perfect for past action with present effect

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago













1. Does the present perfect imply an action finished in the past? 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago







1. Does the present perfect imply an action finished in the past? 2. “I just ate them” and “I've just eaten them” — What's the difference in American and in British?

– Mari-Lou A
17 hours ago












1 Answer
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0














@Mari-Lou A has linked to some of the multitude of similar questions on this topic. Whether your particular question can be considered a duplicate of any or most of these (or indeed belongs on ELL), I'll leave others to decide.



I am answering nevertheless because I want to cite an extract from Michael Lewis's The English Verb which offers an alternative way of understanding the usage of the various English verb constructions.



Firstly, Lewis spends some time explaining why he thinks the terms remote past and present retrospective are more helpful for learners than the traditional past simple and present perfect. He then discusses the circumstances in which one or the other form is preferred (p75-78).




The difference between the use of the remote and present retrospective forms causes great difficulty for many learners... .The difference, as we have seen, is that the past simple is essentially factual, remote in time, and relates to a definite state or time in the past; the present retrospective, is, most importantly a present form, essentially grounded in the moment of speaking.



...



Sometimes the language the speaker uses is almost sufficient to guarantee the use of the present perfect. Oh look, someone's opened the window. The use of Oh look places the speaker psychologically very firmly at Now. In these circumstances it is almost certain that the speaker will use a present retrospective. At the same time it is not inevitable. The speaker may...say Oh look, someone opened the window after all. All we can say is if the context is such that the speaker is strongly aware of the moment of speaking, Now, present retrospective forms are common.




As to the present question, it seems clear that in asking where? the speaker is thinking of the shop in which the purchase was made. Since the actual purchase is an event in the remote past, the past simple form is used. I cannot imagine many native speakers asking Where have you bought it? in such a context.



As an aside, Lewis's analysis above explains why the speaker (A) of the original statement uses the present retrospective/perfect. But his further comment applies in this context too. Speaker A might also say: Look! I bought a new hat, influenced by the thought of the purchase event itself.






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    1 Answer
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    1 Answer
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    active

    oldest

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    active

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    0














    @Mari-Lou A has linked to some of the multitude of similar questions on this topic. Whether your particular question can be considered a duplicate of any or most of these (or indeed belongs on ELL), I'll leave others to decide.



    I am answering nevertheless because I want to cite an extract from Michael Lewis's The English Verb which offers an alternative way of understanding the usage of the various English verb constructions.



    Firstly, Lewis spends some time explaining why he thinks the terms remote past and present retrospective are more helpful for learners than the traditional past simple and present perfect. He then discusses the circumstances in which one or the other form is preferred (p75-78).




    The difference between the use of the remote and present retrospective forms causes great difficulty for many learners... .The difference, as we have seen, is that the past simple is essentially factual, remote in time, and relates to a definite state or time in the past; the present retrospective, is, most importantly a present form, essentially grounded in the moment of speaking.



    ...



    Sometimes the language the speaker uses is almost sufficient to guarantee the use of the present perfect. Oh look, someone's opened the window. The use of Oh look places the speaker psychologically very firmly at Now. In these circumstances it is almost certain that the speaker will use a present retrospective. At the same time it is not inevitable. The speaker may...say Oh look, someone opened the window after all. All we can say is if the context is such that the speaker is strongly aware of the moment of speaking, Now, present retrospective forms are common.




    As to the present question, it seems clear that in asking where? the speaker is thinking of the shop in which the purchase was made. Since the actual purchase is an event in the remote past, the past simple form is used. I cannot imagine many native speakers asking Where have you bought it? in such a context.



    As an aside, Lewis's analysis above explains why the speaker (A) of the original statement uses the present retrospective/perfect. But his further comment applies in this context too. Speaker A might also say: Look! I bought a new hat, influenced by the thought of the purchase event itself.






    share|improve this answer




























      0














      @Mari-Lou A has linked to some of the multitude of similar questions on this topic. Whether your particular question can be considered a duplicate of any or most of these (or indeed belongs on ELL), I'll leave others to decide.



      I am answering nevertheless because I want to cite an extract from Michael Lewis's The English Verb which offers an alternative way of understanding the usage of the various English verb constructions.



      Firstly, Lewis spends some time explaining why he thinks the terms remote past and present retrospective are more helpful for learners than the traditional past simple and present perfect. He then discusses the circumstances in which one or the other form is preferred (p75-78).




      The difference between the use of the remote and present retrospective forms causes great difficulty for many learners... .The difference, as we have seen, is that the past simple is essentially factual, remote in time, and relates to a definite state or time in the past; the present retrospective, is, most importantly a present form, essentially grounded in the moment of speaking.



      ...



      Sometimes the language the speaker uses is almost sufficient to guarantee the use of the present perfect. Oh look, someone's opened the window. The use of Oh look places the speaker psychologically very firmly at Now. In these circumstances it is almost certain that the speaker will use a present retrospective. At the same time it is not inevitable. The speaker may...say Oh look, someone opened the window after all. All we can say is if the context is such that the speaker is strongly aware of the moment of speaking, Now, present retrospective forms are common.




      As to the present question, it seems clear that in asking where? the speaker is thinking of the shop in which the purchase was made. Since the actual purchase is an event in the remote past, the past simple form is used. I cannot imagine many native speakers asking Where have you bought it? in such a context.



      As an aside, Lewis's analysis above explains why the speaker (A) of the original statement uses the present retrospective/perfect. But his further comment applies in this context too. Speaker A might also say: Look! I bought a new hat, influenced by the thought of the purchase event itself.






      share|improve this answer


























        0












        0








        0







        @Mari-Lou A has linked to some of the multitude of similar questions on this topic. Whether your particular question can be considered a duplicate of any or most of these (or indeed belongs on ELL), I'll leave others to decide.



        I am answering nevertheless because I want to cite an extract from Michael Lewis's The English Verb which offers an alternative way of understanding the usage of the various English verb constructions.



        Firstly, Lewis spends some time explaining why he thinks the terms remote past and present retrospective are more helpful for learners than the traditional past simple and present perfect. He then discusses the circumstances in which one or the other form is preferred (p75-78).




        The difference between the use of the remote and present retrospective forms causes great difficulty for many learners... .The difference, as we have seen, is that the past simple is essentially factual, remote in time, and relates to a definite state or time in the past; the present retrospective, is, most importantly a present form, essentially grounded in the moment of speaking.



        ...



        Sometimes the language the speaker uses is almost sufficient to guarantee the use of the present perfect. Oh look, someone's opened the window. The use of Oh look places the speaker psychologically very firmly at Now. In these circumstances it is almost certain that the speaker will use a present retrospective. At the same time it is not inevitable. The speaker may...say Oh look, someone opened the window after all. All we can say is if the context is such that the speaker is strongly aware of the moment of speaking, Now, present retrospective forms are common.




        As to the present question, it seems clear that in asking where? the speaker is thinking of the shop in which the purchase was made. Since the actual purchase is an event in the remote past, the past simple form is used. I cannot imagine many native speakers asking Where have you bought it? in such a context.



        As an aside, Lewis's analysis above explains why the speaker (A) of the original statement uses the present retrospective/perfect. But his further comment applies in this context too. Speaker A might also say: Look! I bought a new hat, influenced by the thought of the purchase event itself.






        share|improve this answer













        @Mari-Lou A has linked to some of the multitude of similar questions on this topic. Whether your particular question can be considered a duplicate of any or most of these (or indeed belongs on ELL), I'll leave others to decide.



        I am answering nevertheless because I want to cite an extract from Michael Lewis's The English Verb which offers an alternative way of understanding the usage of the various English verb constructions.



        Firstly, Lewis spends some time explaining why he thinks the terms remote past and present retrospective are more helpful for learners than the traditional past simple and present perfect. He then discusses the circumstances in which one or the other form is preferred (p75-78).




        The difference between the use of the remote and present retrospective forms causes great difficulty for many learners... .The difference, as we have seen, is that the past simple is essentially factual, remote in time, and relates to a definite state or time in the past; the present retrospective, is, most importantly a present form, essentially grounded in the moment of speaking.



        ...



        Sometimes the language the speaker uses is almost sufficient to guarantee the use of the present perfect. Oh look, someone's opened the window. The use of Oh look places the speaker psychologically very firmly at Now. In these circumstances it is almost certain that the speaker will use a present retrospective. At the same time it is not inevitable. The speaker may...say Oh look, someone opened the window after all. All we can say is if the context is such that the speaker is strongly aware of the moment of speaking, Now, present retrospective forms are common.




        As to the present question, it seems clear that in asking where? the speaker is thinking of the shop in which the purchase was made. Since the actual purchase is an event in the remote past, the past simple form is used. I cannot imagine many native speakers asking Where have you bought it? in such a context.



        As an aside, Lewis's analysis above explains why the speaker (A) of the original statement uses the present retrospective/perfect. But his further comment applies in this context too. Speaker A might also say: Look! I bought a new hat, influenced by the thought of the purchase event itself.







        share|improve this answer












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        share|improve this answer










        answered 16 hours ago









        ShoeShoe

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