Is it correct to say
"I've missed this programme but I've watched another informative programme"
Should I say 'but I've watched...' or 'but I watched...'
Thanks
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3Why do you want to cast the first clause in the present perfect?– StoneyB on hiatusDec 26, 2015 at 22:42
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2@StoneyB I thought the same. Writing I missed (...) but I've watched (...) shows more relevance.– SchwaleDec 26, 2015 at 22:47
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The sentence is somewhat odd. "this" is the present tense. So "I've missed that programme but I've watched another informative programme."– MaxWDec 27, 2015 at 3:11
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I missed this programme but watched another informative programme.– KhanDec 27, 2015 at 4:42
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@StoneyB Sorry to be a bumpkin but can you please explain to me what bumped tot he homepage by Community means? Thanks.– LambieJun 29, 2017 at 16:11
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3 Answers
There is no reason to me to use a perfect tense. Also, I assume you're talking about missing some form of educational or entertainment activity but instead viewed an alternative. You are using dialogue so the word that should replace this. (You are explaining you missed a specific programme in the past.) Using a comma to join two independent clauses connected by a conjunction is standard but not necessary. Finally, it is awkward to use the word programme twice; a pronoun would work nicely.
"I missed that programme, but I watched another informative one."
The phrase a different, could replace another, but you would be understood either way. The more correct methodology would be to use serial adjectives "a different and informative one," which can be shortened by removing "and" and replacing with a comma.
Thus: "I missed that programme, but I watched a different, informative one."
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1If the people are looking at a TV schedule in which at least the first programme is listed, then this would be appropriate.– GoDucksDec 27, 2015 at 15:22
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In the first sentence you do not need to use present perfect tense. Because you are talking about the programme which you did not watch. It's better to use past tense for the first sentence.
"I missed this programme but I watched another informative one."
Also, in the second one you are talking about the programme which you watched. So, again it's better to use past tense, or you can use past perfect tense for the first sentece and past simple tense for the second one.
"I had missed this programme but I watched another informative one."
It's ok to use the present perfect tense if the time is not mentioned. If you talk about something you did yesterday or basically in the past use simple past. thanks.
