Speaking about the Past During my last online lesson, I got to know about correct answering questions when speaking about the Past. The point is that sometimes you can use not neccessary the same Tense as it is in a question you answer. And it usually happens in a real conversation. You might have been asked a question in the Present Perfect. Then you could answer in two different ways that is both in the Present Perfect and in the Past Simple. What does it depend on? The chosen Tense depends on focus you like to make in your answer. So if you like to stress the result or completed action, you chose the Present Perfect. If you like to stress (or it is supposed by your interlocutor despite he doesn't ask you directly) that the action was done in specific time, hence you chose the Past Simple. Here we have some examples. Q in PP: Has she closed the window? A in PS: Yes, she has already closed the window. A in PP: She closed the window about 10 min ago. Q in PP: Have you ever driven this car? A in PS: Yes, I have driven this car. A in PP: I drove this car while it was raining yesterday. Q in PP: Has that driver ever had an accident? A in PS: Yes, that driver has had an accident despite he is quite experienced. A in PP: That driver had an accident recently, even last week, despite he was quite experienced. Q in PP: Has Timmy seen a giraffe? A in PS: Yes, Timmy has already seen a giraffe in our Zoo. A in PP: Timmy saw a funny giraffe last Sunday when he was in Zoo. Q in PP: Have you ever studied the Arts? A in PS: Yes, I have studied the Arts. A in PP: I studied the Arts in Lviv in the late 1980s. But you ought to be attentive in a case you have been asked a question in the Past Simple. Then you must answer it only in in the Past Simple that is in the very same Tense. That for sure means you've been asked about the Past ;) --- Thanks to Alan, my teacher... http://www.italki.com/T006414639.htm