Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[mings]

Please correct the tense I use if It is not correct. Thanks.

A. Which countries have you visited?
B. I travelled around most of Europe and Latin America and I have known Mexico very well. I had spent a year there before I started college."

[Sina]

Hey,
no, but I think you made a mistake becaaause..
A sounds ok but I'd prefer
Which countries have you ever vistited...
or which countries did you see when travelling around?

The first tense in B is used correctly....but the next isn't correct because you have ti use the simple past (at least, that s my guess)...

I knew mexico well or maybe better: I got to know M. well.
You just have to keep in mind that simple is used when the plot/action is totally completed or finished...while having no conseqences for the present..for the right and now. The present perfect namely is used when having done sth. in the past (you broke your leg..but your leg is still broken today..-> I have broken my leg...) and being confronted with the action still now..Hope, xou understand and I haven't done any mistakes.

[asterix]

I have travelled around most of Europe and Latin America and I know Mexico very well. I spent a year there before I started college."

[Sina]

Hey, no, I think your guess isn't correct beacuse she is still going to school, doesn't she? So the correct version is "befpr I have started college..." And I think that she meant to say that she got to know Mexico ...but I am not sure though

[mings]

Dear Sina.
your suggestion" which countries have you ever visited" is good". I will take it.
But the next sentences I agree with asterix.
How he uses tenses in the sentence coincides with my thoughts But I don't know how to explain more.
Thank you both of you.

[asterix]

Mings, take my word for it, my version is correct.