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ESL forum >
Ask for help > Present Perfect or Past simple?
Present Perfect or Past simple?

Dina Lana
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Present Perfect or Past simple?
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I need help with this sentence . You have to decide between Present Perfect or Past Simple.
A: What_________ ( happen)? Why is the room full of smoke? B: I ____________( just / cook) dinner, dear. A: Well, I �m not that hungry. I have a problem with the first sentence. What should I use What has happened? Or What happened? I need the answer as soon as possible.
Thank you !!! xoxo
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11 Apr 2011
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Kate (kkcat)
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�What �s happened � (s stands for HAS) or if you prefer AmE go for �WHat happened? �
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11 Apr 2011
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douglas
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With the first sentence both tenses will work: what has happened (PP) or what happened (PS).
They are probably looking for the PP version though because it has a direct and significant influence on the present (the room is full of smoke).
for the second sentence PP (I have just cooked..) is correct
Douglas |
11 Apr 2011
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ISAVELUCHITA
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has happened is better because the smoke is the evidence for the action in the present perfect simple. |
11 Apr 2011
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mjpa
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I agree with Isaveluchita. if there is smoke in the room it means the action has just happened. it is recent. So present perfect should be used. |
11 Apr 2011
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Mary Myr
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i actually think that "i �ve just been cooking dinner" suits better, but.. :)
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11 Apr 2011
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