Hi, can Past Simple Tense be used when we are talking about resent past which is indicated by expressions such as this morning, this week, this month, etc?
E.g. This week, I met John at the cafe.
Thanks!
Yes.
Note the correct spelling of ‘recent’.
Hi Irene,
You can certainly use the Past Simple where a particular time is mentioned even if that time is within a recent period.
Thank you for following me and seconding that.
—> this way
‘Following’ ? That’s rich. It’s difficult not to bump into you as you virtually live on the site!
I’m sorry to bother you again with this, but what you’ve said above makes things more complicated for me.
I thought “this week” is an incomplete period of time, still connected to the present and that’s why requires Present Perfect.
That is what I’ve read in my English grammar books.
“This week, I’ve met …”.
Thank you!
Hi Stejar,
I understand your confusion. The Past Simple is used when you refer to a particular time in the past. It doesn’t matter how near that ‘past’ is. I can say: It rained today, even when we are still ‘in today’ because I am thinking about that particular time when it rained today. That is really no different grammatically than when we say: It rained on Monday/last week/in 1976. When you say: It has rained today, you are talking in general terms about what has happened throughout the day and you are referring to the period of time linking both early in the day and now. You are not thinking about that particular occasion when the rain came down.
Let me know if this helps.
Alan
Alan
Can’t we use the present perfect tense construction to refer to any activity that took place in the past (whether remote or recent) as long as the time occurrence is not mentioned?
Consider these:
I have met Bertrand Russell.
I have spoken to her many times.
I have visited London once.
Absolutely.
Thank you, Alan. (Sorry, I omitted ‘of’ before ‘occurrence’)
Thank you. Your detailed explanation was very helpful.