3

Could you help me with these sentences:

  1. I lied to her. (I'm just making a statment)
  2. I've lied to her because the truth would have hurted her.

Second example:

  1. I have been working at Google for 10years. (Meaning I am still working there)
  2. I've worked at Google and it was nice.(I don't work anymore)
  3. I worked at Google. (Not sure about the difference with the previous one)

I'm learning the different tenses and it isn't so easy for me. Any help would be welcome.

Regards,

Improve this question
1
  • 1/ "I lied to her" is a simple statement in past. 2/ You can search this as one of the conditionals (btw I don't think it's "hurted" but only "hurt"). Second example: 1/ Yeah. 2/ This means the same thing as 1/ (well it can differ in nuances but your point is not one of these cases) - you are just expressing your experience in this case probably. If you wanted to say you worked there but not anymore you can say: I used to work there. 3/ Again simple statement in the past. Others will surely explain it better.
    – Vico Lemp
    Apr 22, 2017 at 11:38

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

In each case, it's the context that determines the most suitable tense.

I have been working at ....

means, as you state, that you are still working at.... It stretches from a point in the past and continues into the present.

I have worked at.....

is the response that you would give, for example, if you were asked what experience you had in your field. Because this experience covers the period up to the present day, you might respond:

As well as obtaining a PhD in software development, I have worked at Google (for ten years) and have completed two years with Microsoft.

This tense stretches from a point in the past up to the present, without the implication that it is continuing.

I worked at.....

is a statement of something you did at some undefined time in the past and which you no longer do. You would use the past tense if you were asked, for example, where you had worked after leaving university. You might reply:

I worked at Google for ten years (before I went freelance).

Improve this answer
0

You can use either. (I lied to her - simple past, I have lied to her - present perfect)

Second Example: There is little difference in meaning (1 and 2)

  1. I have been working at Google for 10years. (I am still working)

  2. I have worked at Google for 10years. (I am still working)

  3. I worked at Google. (I no longer work)

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .