Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

The present perfect or the past simple

Some time adjuncts can be used with either the present perfect or the past simple,

depending upon the speaker’s/writer’s perspective. These include:

already

once

this morning/week/

etc.

before

recently today 

With this group of adjuncts, if the events are considered as happening at a definite

point in the past, then the past simple is used:

The house 

was sold

recently

. 

(speaker is thinking of a definite point in the past when the house sale took place)

I 

rang him 

this morning

.

(said after midday, when ‘this morning’ has finished)

[referring to the day at work]

Did you see everybody you wanted to see 

today

? 

(speaker considers ‘today’ finished as a work day)

If the events are seen as connected to or relevant to the moment of speaking or

writing, then the present perfect is used:

[loudspeaker announcement on a train]

To all passengers who 

have

recently

joined this service. My name is Chris and

I’m your chief steward. 

(speaker focuses on the fact that the passengers are on the train now)

I

’ve been busy

this morning

.

(said during the morning)

I haven’t asked her yet. I 

haven’t seen her 

today

. 

(speaker considers ‘today’ to be still current)