Shows like this are what got me interested in the first place. I love having my own use of my native language explained to me because I just say what comes naturally but don't necessarily know why.
Yeah, present perfect and simple past are hard to distinguish for German speakers too, because in German both tenses are mostly mutually exchangeable.
I think you must have a feel for the language, because it's rather an unconscious choice between the tenses.
The way I learned it, you use present perfect also in situations where you are more interested in the result rather than the action or when the action is not in question. E.g. if you ask your kid "Have you done your homework", that also sends the message, that he better does them. So when the watchman says "the watchman has spoken" that to me sounds as if his word is very important and everyone was only waiting for his final say :P
Another example would be the question "Have you seen the movie?". In this case, we'd be more interested in whether the person knows the movie, rather than when they watched it.
P.S.: present perfect in that sense meaning, has the action at present been "perfected" (aka completed, finished, occured, brought about, ..)? and out ...
jesus christ in a body of a women!!!!!!! not a complement
TiaOlipia 3 months ago
oh my god she is pretty and beatiful but i am sad to say this video didnt improve my english the least and its my native language
MALIRIPPA 2 years ago
lovely thank you very much, now i think i can become better than before with this piece of advice byebye
tritriren 3 years ago
excellent show!! I'm a native English speaker;yet some of those questions were a bit of a challenge.
mrmree 4 years ago
Hm, must have been some other rating we were on top of, Sweden :p
wowJhil 4 years ago
Shows like this are what got me interested in the first place. I love having my own use of my native language explained to me because I just say what comes naturally but don't necessarily know why.
luxztizer 4 years ago
Yeah, present perfect and simple past are hard to distinguish for German speakers too, because in German both tenses are mostly mutually exchangeable.
I think you must have a feel for the language, because it's rather an unconscious choice between the tenses.
Redfrettchen 4 years ago
The way I learned it, you use present perfect also in situations where you are more interested in the result rather than the action or when the action is not in question. E.g. if you ask your kid "Have you done your homework", that also sends the message, that he better does them. So when the watchman says "the watchman has spoken" that to me sounds as if his word is very important and everyone was only waiting for his final say :P
thaevilpimp 4 years ago
It's kind of the same as being less specific about the time of the action itself. What you said.
thaevilpimp 4 years ago
Another example would be the question "Have you seen the movie?". In this case, we'd be more interested in whether the person knows the movie, rather than when they watched it.
thaevilpimp 4 years ago
Is chain commenting a disease?
thaevilpimp 4 years ago
P.S.: present perfect in that sense meaning, has the action at present been "perfected" (aka completed, finished, occured, brought about, ..)? and out ...
thaevilpimp 4 years ago
The result rule is quite useful. Thanks!
Redfrettchen 4 years ago
So where do I send the money for this lesson:)?
ponhand 4 years ago