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different between past tense and present or past perfect tense

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10:09 pm
19/11/2009


v.sudhakaran

Guest

hi i am sudhakar i wanna know the usage of perfect tenses bcz perfect tense and past tense are
used for the same situation.
(e.x)
after the cricket match the commandator announces that india won the match instead of
" india have won the match"

8:42 am
21/11/2009


Rook

Admin

posts 12

This is a very good question. Confusing Present Perfect with Past tense is a common source of error.

The Present Perfect tense is used to indicate an action that was completed in the past, but whose influence is still being felt in the present. For example:
Q: What are your qualifications?
A: I have done my MBA. [Present Perfect]

The present perfect is used because the past action of having done an MBA is relevant even at the current moment - i.e., in the context of a job interview.
On the other hand,
Q: When did you complete your MBA?
A: I completed my MBA in 2003. [Simple Past]

Do not say, "I have completed my MBA in 2003." When a definite time marker (like 2003, last year, yesterday etc.) is used to fix an event in the past, the Present Perfect tense should never be used.

In the example given by you, the commentator is most likely to say:
India has won the match!
A news reporter, on the other hand, would say:
India won the match, defeating Australia by 3 wickets.

3:35 am
27/11/2009


Sharath

Guest

Thanks for this post - often I run into this confusion too !
Thanks again

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