I or I have

[caro64]

Hello all, I haven't been around for a while but still please help me out here, I have a quick question, I think I know the answer but wouldn't mind a few opinions from you ladies and gents.
Which one is right?...

I have just bought a postcard

or

I just bought a postcard

and

Mr. Pearson made a dodge ball field

or

Mr. Pearson has just made a dodge ball field

Thank you

[tiorthan]

Well, "correct" depends on the context in which this is used. In Standard British English the first sentence makes a statement about the present looking back onto a just completed action - which means perfect aspect. Therefore the correct Standard English choice is "I have just bought a postcard."

In some varieties like for example American English the simple Past ("I just made...") is often also used in perfective situations making all of your examples acceptable.

In your second example you use "Mr Pearson has just made ..." but there is no just in "Mr Pearson made ...". Both these sentences are correct by any standard. Unless, of course, you forgot a "just" in your second sentence.

[caro64]

No sorry the second didn't have a 'just' in it. . What happened is that my son wrote both of these sentences in his written test (the ones without the 'have/has' ) and he didn't get the points because apparently he should have written have/has. I must admit it does sound better with have but it doesn't sound wrong without.

The job was

'put in the right form of the verb'

Look, I ____________________ (just / buy) a postcard = My son wrote 'just bought'

Oh, Mr.Pearson ________________________ (make) a dodge ball field. = My son wrote 'made'

Both were considered wrong because he it should have been 'have bought' and 'has made'.

Never mind he'll get over it , thank you very much tiothan for your answer.

[tiorthan]

The context of the second sentence is important since the "Oh" does not qualify as a marker of perfectivity. If no further context is provided you can insert literally any form.

[Keswick (Contributor)]

Hi Caro,

Good to see you again!

While I am by no means a grammar genius, I give it a go:

Look, I ____________________ (just / buy) a postcard = My son wrote 'just bought'

This should be "Look, I have just bought a postcard" --> Present Perfect --> a recently completed action
See HERE

Oh, Mr. Pearson ________________________ (make) a dodge ball field. = My son wrote 'made'

This is down to the same rule as above (see same website), however in this case it's not a recently completed action, but the result of a completed action which is important in the present -- does that make sense?

See you later!

[caro64]

Hi Keswick, nice hearing from you, thanks for your help. I do understand that using the 'have' form is the present perfect, so I suppose without the 'have' they are simple past, yer? or are these (I just bought a postcard etc) completely wrong, although they don't sound wrong, I personally use them all the time ( )
See you,
Caro

[Keswick (Contributor)]

Well strictly speaking, "I just bought a postcard" is wrong, however you tend to hear it in the US and many British use the form as well.

To be honest, how many people do you know who have actually learned grammar, I mean properly? Hardly any, you grow up using certain forms in certain ways and while "I just bought a postcard" is grammatically wrong, you still hear people use it because that's what they learned. Just look at all the phrases that I use on a daily basis: you alright? How's you? You's ok? -- painfully wrong but common usage. So yes, for grammar specialists, using "I just bought a postcard" i.e. simple past instead of present perfect is stomach-churningly wrong, however I don't think the use of it is down to ignorance of grammar but to common usage.

Let me know if my blabbering doesn't make any sense .

[caro64]

It does make sense Keswick. Thank you

[Duckduck (Contributor)]

Hi Keswick, nice hearing from you, thanks for your help. I do understand that using the 'have' form is the present perfect, so I suppose without the 'have' they are simple past, yer? or are these (I just bought a postcard etc) completely wrong, although they don't sound wrong, I personally use them all the time ( )
See you,
Caro

Hi dearest Caro - and all the rest!

Just my luck to have missed this nice little thread! Everything has been said - one is inclined to think - but let me just remind you:

In this sentence, leaving the "have/has" out marks the difference between Present Perfect and Past Tense. You're right so far. But this is only because "buy" happens to have identical forms for the Past Tense and the Past Participle. (Don't shout at me, I can't help it, I simply love grammar!)
What I mean is: take this sentence:

He has gone home. -> Present Perfect: have/has + Past Participle
But if you leave out the "have/has", it doesn't mean that you get a correct sentence in Past Tense, because the forms are not identical here. You would have to use the Past Tense which is:
He went home.

Love
Duckduck

[caro64]

Hi Duckduck, NO WAY! I wouldn't dream of shouting at you I do understand now why the have/has is important, it's just that there wasn't any indication of having to use the present perfect, which confused me and got me wondering why is 'I bought a postcard' wrong.
Thank you,
love Caroline