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Canada flagVincent
Verb tense Hi, I would like to know if there is a different meaning according to the verb tense used between these two sentences: 1- I have seen you at the airport yesterday! 2- I saw you at the airport yesterday! Thank you!

Answers · 7

1
Yes, there's a huge difference: sentence number 1 is wrong! We never use a past time (yesterday) with present perfect. Only your second sentence makes sense.
1
The first example is not correct because "have" marks the continuity of the action to the present moment, which is not possible because you also mentioned a past moment - yesterday. I have seen you at the airport today. - today has not ended yet The second sentence is ok. So, in the first sentence the Present Perfect Tense is used, while in the second sentence the Simple Past Tense is used.
0
Only number two is right. It's a completed action at a specified time in the past so it is not possible to use the present perfect.

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