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Pelin
Can I use these interchangeably?
I haven't said or done anything.
I neither said nor did anything.
May 15, 2025 9:38 PM
Answers · 2
2
No. The first uses the Present Perfect while the second uses the Simple Past. Those two tenses serve different purposes.
The Present Perfect really does talk about the present, not the past. That is why it is called *Present* perfect. The first sentence says that at the present moment you are a person who does not have the *experience* of saying or doing anything.
The second sentence talks about the past, not the present.
I know that can be confusing because "experience" is a retrospective concept so it points to the past. However, an experience is something you possess at the present moment. For example, if someone says "I have had the flu", it means they have that experience. "Having the flu" is right now an experience that belongs to them.
May 15, 2025
Invitee
Hi Pelin, these sentences mean literally the same thing but there is a difference in tone. The first is neutral, the second is more formal and, in some contexts, may sound defensive. If you are writing something and need help choosing the most appropriate language for the context, let me know.
May 15, 2025
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Pelin
Language Skills
English, Turkish
Learning Language
English
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