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As you have cancelled my order ,don't change anything .But if you can let me know why you cancelled it that would be nice .

What do you think of the use of past simple is it justified? I think so because for the second cancelled I don't mind if it has an effect on the present where as in the first one it has a present relevance, but may be it is better to use the same tense for both (past simple or present perfect) as it is the same action

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  • Why are you asking? The order was cancelled. Very simple. Why confuse the issue?
    – Lambie
    Jul 14, 2019 at 16:23
  • because I thought and may be still thinking that for the same action only one tense is possible in this case either past simple or present perfect but not present perfect and after past simple
    – Yves Lefol
    Jul 14, 2019 at 16:32
  • Beyond the actual grammar, which must be correct, there is the issue of what you want to say. :)
    – Lambie
    Jul 14, 2019 at 16:46
  • What are you actually asking? Since the only word you put in bold is the second use of cancelled are you suggesting it should be something different than what it is? If so, what? Are you suggesting there's something wrong with the sentence as it's written?
    – Jason Bassford
    Jul 14, 2019 at 22:35
  • yes just would like to know if past simple for the second use of the verb cancel is right in the last sentence as the first one is present perfect and it is the same action at the same time
    – Yves Lefol
    Jul 15, 2019 at 6:23

1 Answer 1

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If you want to emphasize the present relevance, use the present perfect. If you want to focus on the past action, the cancellation took place in the past, use the past simple. I don't see anything wrong with using different tenses in the same sentence.

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  • even if it is the same action
    – Yves Lefol
    Jul 14, 2019 at 16:11
  • This is common also with news: a news fact is introduced with present perfect and further details are given with past simple. For example: " The famous actor so and so has died. He died last night of a cardiac arrest.
    – anouk
    Jul 14, 2019 at 17:23
  • why downvote for this answer
    – Yves Lefol
    Jul 15, 2019 at 8:56
  • I would like to know as well, what is wrong with my answer? Downvoting like this is completely useless.
    – anouk
    Jul 15, 2019 at 14:44

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