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    Language lab

    Have you ever seen ... vs. Did you ever see ...

    Topic

    Have you ever seen ... vs. Did you ever see ...

    Comment
    In every-day conversations with colleagues I came across both constructions.
    Is there any significant difference in semantics, aspect, etc. between sentence patterns like:
    "Have you ever seen / noticed ..."
    and
    "Did you ever see / notice ..." ?

    .. or is it just sloppy or wrong use of language?
    Author Leseratz (238114) 28 Nov 08, 12:29
    Comment
    In BE we would use "Did you ever see" when asking about something someone might have done during a completed period in the past.
    Iain: When I was young I used to go fishing in Loch Ness.
    Mary: Did you ever see the Loch Ness Monster?
    (he does not go fishing there now, so she uses the past simple)

    In BE we use "Have you ever seen" to ask about events during a person's (unfinished) lifetime.
    Mary: Iain, have you ever seen the Loch Ness Monster? (=in all your life)

    In AE people also use "Did you ever see" for this, too:
    Sue-Ellen: Jim-Bob, did you ever see the Statue of Liberty? (= in all your life)
    (Disclaimer: I'm not American.)
    #1Author CM2DD (236324) 28 Nov 08, 12:38
    Comment
    Fine, thank you.
    #2Author Leseratz (238114) 28 Nov 08, 12:53
     
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