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ESL forum > Message board > simple past and/or present perfect    

simple past and/or present perfect



apayala
Spain

simple past and/or present perfect
 

can we say: I have read a book this morning?

or we have to say: I read a book this morning?
 
I know unspecified time is with present perfect. I know specific time is with simple past. And I know present perfect connects past with the present moment. So... is "this morning" a specific time or should I consider it as a past action connected with the present?.
 
I feel I know nothing right now... please help and thanks
 

19 Jan 2011      





silvanadelval
Argentina

Hi Apayala!

To the best of my knowledge, if it �s before noon and you say "this morning", then you use Present Perfect and if it �s after noon you use Simple Past, as the morning is over and it now belongs to the past.

All the best from Argentina!

Silvana

19 Jan 2011     



yanogator
United States

Silvana is correct about this. You can also use the simple past if it is still before noon. At 11:00 you can say "I read a book this morning" or "I have read a book this morning".
 
Bruce

19 Jan 2011     



apayala
Spain

Thanks but please, can I use simple past or not with "this morning"?
I still don�t know....

19 Jan 2011     



Zora
Canada

Technically, yes, but it would depend when the speaker is saying this.

if it �s 10am, then it should be the present perfect. if it �s 6pm, then I �d use the past.

19 Jan 2011