The use of the Past Simple after the Present Perfect

Question

Tell me please if I used the right tense in the following sentences.

I have stumbled into the word that I cannot understand. I looked it up in a few dictionaries, but still have a hard time understanding it.

Would it be better to use the Present Perfect in the second sentence or the Past Simple is ok there?

Dmyrto: either one. This is one of those "what-you-want-to-say" questions. There is no right or wrong here. — Lambie, Commented May 10, 2018 at 19:37
It's fine as written. Lambie is correct and either is fine, but I prefer the present simple to indicate that it's a current and ongoing problem for you. — Andrew, Commented May 10, 2018 at 21:45

Eddie Kal · Accepted Answer · 2018-05-11 15:59:13Z

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I would probably say

I stumbled onto a word that I cannot understand. I have looked it up in a few dictionaries, but still have a hard time understanding it.

So to directly answer your question, present perfect seems more natural to me.

Eddie Kal

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answered May 11, 2018 at 0:13

jwind

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