1

When you are suprise by something, is it always correct to use the present perfect:

  • I have seen a dog it could bite us, let's run!

We are looking for a book in a library and I have just seen it and I say to people

  • I have found the book, come here!

  • Oh, I have fallen off the chair!

1
  • You can use the present tense when you are surprised by something as well. "Look! There's Brad Pitt!" Commented Aug 8, 2022 at 18:39

1 Answer 1

1

There is no error in using the present perfect in the first example.

There is an event in the past (seeing the dog) and this is connected to the present (your present fear of being bitten and your suggestion to run). There is no "past time" expression like "yesterday".

It would also be correct to say "I just saw a dog...." The present perfect is correct, but not essential.

Your written sentence is poor grammar because you have three sentences, which you join together. It would be better to include the word "just" to mean "very recently". You probably should have "I've just seen a dog. It could bite us! Let's run."

Similarly there is no mistake in using the present perfect in the other two cases (but "Come here!" is a separate sentence.) In spoken English, it would be very unusual to say "I have" instead of "I've".

You must log in to answer this question.

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