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present perfect + past simple in the same sentence

English Language & Usage Asked on October 5, 2021

Can I use present perfect tense and simple past tense in the same sentence ?

For example :

Even though I have just/recently cleaned up the house, I spotted some bugs around the kitchen (today/this evening).

Is this sentence grammatically correct and idiomatic as well?

3 Answers

Yes, it is perfectly idiomatic since the perfect and the past tenses relate to different time conditions.

Although he has watched football all his life, he didn't go to today's match.

The first verb relates to something that has been going on throughout the subject's lifetime, the second to what he did today.

Correct answer by WS2 on October 5, 2021

The 1st part of the sentence is correct but the 2nd part is erroneous because when we talk of today (which is not yet over) we are talking in the present contest, hence present perfect tense should be used. The correct sentence is "Although he has watched football all his life, he hasn't seen today's match."

Answered by Anirudha Sarkar on October 5, 2021

Yes, it is perfectly idiomatic since the perfect and the past tenses relate to different time conditions.

Although he has watched football all his life, he didn't go to today's match.

The first verb relates to something that has been going on throughout the subject's lifetime, the second to what he did today.

Answered by user387458 on October 5, 2021

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