Hi,
Could you please help me understand the humour?
“I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it.”
TIA
Could you please help me understand the humour?
“I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it.”
TIA
Groucho Marx
Well, the first sentence sounds like it means: "I had a good time.", but the second sentence means that he actually didn't have a good time--he was referring to a different evening that was good.
I had a good time. But not tonight.
I had a good time. But not tonight.
Thanks, V.X.
Then, the choice of tenses is odd –“ I’ve had” is supposed to refer to sth more recent than “this wasn’t”, isn’t it??
Then, the choice of tenses is odd –“ I’ve had” is supposed to refer to sth more recent than “this wasn’t”, isn’t it??
The choice of vague tenses is part of the humour. You are lead to believe the wonderful evening is the present evening until you get to the second sentence.
Thank you, my mysterious friend (really heart-warming).
As a teacher I've made a mental tick to use the quotation to
a) illustrate the difference between the Pr.Perfect and Past Simple
b) show how meaningful grammar is.
As a teacher I've made a mental tick to use the quotation to
a) illustrate the difference between the Pr.Perfect and Past Simple
b) show how meaningful grammar is.
We can used the present perfect to talk about a past experience. There, that's what is being played on.
"I've experienced a wonderful evening in my life, but this wasn't the one."
Check out the "experiential/existential present perfect".
"I've experienced a wonderful evening in my life, but this wasn't the one."
Check out the "experiential/existential present perfect".