Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

BMO · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705

A. He has just done the laundry.
B. He did the laundry just now.

Are these two expressing the same thing or is there a difference?

Thanks a lot.

Brian Boyd · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 176 Location: Bangkok, Thailand

BMO

I think it would be better to say

He finished the laundry just now.

Saying 'He did the laundry just now.' makes it sound like the laundry is a job that only takes one minute to do.

Brian
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BMO · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705

Thanks a lot. Now if I say, he has just finished the laundry, using Present Perfect. Is it the same as he finished the laundry just now?

bmo

Anuradha Chepur · Joined: 20 May 2006 Posts: 933

Yes. (but the Present Perfect is suited for actions just completed.)

ad-miral · Joined: 01 Sep 2006 Posts: 1488

I think the present perfect here is needed.
If you use "just now", then it will be "He is finishing the laundry just now."
If you use "finished", you have to give a time "He finished the laundry at 12'o clock am"

He has just done the laundry or he has just finished the laundry is to my mind absolutely ok.
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If I say "I love you" to someone, then I also have to say "I also love everyone else inside you, I love the whole world because of you, I also love myself inside you." -- Erich Fromm, the Art of Love

BMO · Joined: 19 Feb 2004 Posts: 705

Good replies. Thanks a lot.

bmo