The right tense

Question

Hi.I am writting to ask for the right tense in the following situation.you enter a room, you see there is cigar smoke all over the room.What would be the best thing to say.a. Someone has been smoking here.b. Someone has smoked in here.c. someone smoked in here.d. Someone was smoking in here.I have brought my explanation below, I would be grateful if you could comment on it.I think a is correct. B is not correct because the smoking has just been finished, we could use b if there was a cigar stub. c is wrong because we have a present result and pas simple describes the finished action in the past.And d can be correct if we have a cigar half smoken, so we know the action was not complete.All in all, I think for the situation I cited, the first one is the only true answer.Thanks

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

Let me first ask you to clarify what you want. You have used all the terms I have marked in bold.

Ony #1 is precisely defined (and the answer is Option A). For fun, would you like to try to define the other terms? These terms commonly cause us difficulty when we try to reply.

1. Do you want the best thing to say?

2. Do you want the answers that are correct?

3. Do you want the answers that are right and wrong?

4. Do you want the true answer?

Clive

Hrsanei · Answer

Hi.

Thanks Clive.

I don't know the difference between right, correct and true exactly. Let me give it a go.

I think true is used for facts.

Correct is used for grammaratical rules.

and right and wrong are related to moral issues.

Ex. It is not true that he is the youngest student in the class.

Ex. It is incorrect to use more for non gradeable adjectives.

Ex. It is not right to take advantage of someone's vulnerability.

So I guess I am looking for the correct answer.

Thanks

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Thank you for trying. i hope you can see the problem we have with some of these terms.

Correct is used for grammaratical rules.

So I guess I am looking for the correct answer.

you enter a room, you see there is cigar smoke all over the room.

a. Someone has been smoking in here. Correct grammar. (And most likely answer)

b. Someone has smoked in here. Correct grammar.

c. Someone smoked in here. Correct grammar.

d. Someone was smoking in here. Correct grammar.

Clive

Hrsanei · Answer

Thanks Clive.

But I think we cannot use the third one. When there is a present result of a past action, past simple do not usually fit.

if all are correct, I would be grateful if you could tell the difference.

Thanks for your time and help

Idontknowenglish · Answer

i think

it would be fine if its said like

you enter a room, there you see cigar smoke all over the room.

what do you say clive.

O.ABOOTTY · Answer

Hi, Your first choice is correct.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

But I think we cannot use the third one. When there is a present result of a past action, past simple do not usually fit.

I woud say that this depends on whether the speaker wants to focus on the present result.

( In addition, in casual English, note that native speakers often use the Simple Past instead of the Present Perfect. Perhaps it is shorter and easier to say? )

if all are correct, I would be grateful if you could tell the difference.

Don't forget that earlier in this thread we defined 'correct'as 'correct grammar'. On that basis, all 4 are correct, as I said.

The rest of the exercise consists of trying to decide why you might say each choice.

#1. Keeps the focus on the present situation, and stresses the duration.

#2. As above, but does not stress the duration. Treats it as a completed event that has left a result.

#3. Sounds like a deduction about a past event. eg a detective investigating a murder might look around the room and focus on past events, to discover what happened. eg

Hmmm. Look at this full ashtray. Someone smoked in here. He waited behind the door for Tom. When Tom came in, he shot him.

#4. Similar to #3, but stresses the duration more.

Clive

The right tense

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