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Tenses

britdam007

britdam007

India

1) John has just arrived in New York.


2) John just arrived in  New york.


What is the difference between the above 2 sentences? It’s a bit confusing.

07:16 AM Apr 07 2013 |

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Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

The meaning of the two sentences is identical.


Best,


Amy

07:29 PM Apr 09 2013 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

But doesn’t simple past tense mean completed action in the past? Using the adverb “just” if we say “John just arrived in New York” doesn’t necessarily mean that the action was completed in the past?



On the contrary if we say “John has just arrived”, makes sense because


when used with “just,” it refers to something that happened very recently, as in, “My mother has just arrived.”

04:51 AM Apr 10 2013 |

Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

Yes, simple past means a completed action in the past. In both examples, John has already arrived. The “just” implies that he arrived recently.


-Amy

05:56 AM Apr 12 2013 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

So if you add the word “just” to both the tenses  become identical?

06:45 AM Apr 12 2013 |

Teacher AmySuper Member!

United States

In this case, the primary difference between the simple past and the present perfect would be that the simple past requires a specific time in the past: e.g. “John arrived in New York on Thursday.” But the “just,” in a sense, becomes the specific time. He just arrived, or arrived recently. So yes, the meaning becomes equivalent when you add the “just.”


Hope this clarifies!


-Amy

07:29 PM Apr 14 2013 |

britdam007

britdam007

India

Thank you ma’am. You have a great day.


Cheers

04:34 AM Apr 15 2013 |