Monday, January 21, 2013 3:21 PM by layla1234
If I sent something to my friend yesterday and today I would like to ask her what kind of questions should I ask?Did you listen to that MP3 I sent you yesterday?
or Have you listened to that MP3 I sent you yesterday?
Monday, January 21, 2013 3:41 PM by IELTS instructor
Both the questions are ok. Did you listen is a bit more formal than Have you listened. Technically/Grammaticaly the difference is past and present perfect. Deep down the structure it is not appropriate to use yesterday with have listened. So I would choose did you listen instead of have you listened.Monday, January 21, 2013 3:56 PM by fivejedjon
IELTS instructor"Did you listen" is a bit more formal than "Have you listened".I have no problem with the rest of your response, but I do not agree with this. My feeling is that the past simple is more likely here in both AmE and BrE, though, if the verb had been HEAR, the present perfect would be more likely in BrE. With 'yesterday', the present perfect is the natural choice in both varieties, in my opinion.
Monday, January 21, 2013 4:06 PM by AlpheccaStars
Did you listen to that MP3 I sent you yesterday?or Have you listened to that MP3 I sent you yesterday?
Both are fine.
The adverb "yesterday" is part of the dependent clause, modifying "sent," not the main verb "have listened."
The sentence "Have you listened to that MP3 yesterday?" is not correct. You must use the simple past, "Did you listen to that MP3 yesterday?"
Monday, January 21, 2013 4:13 PM by IELTS instructor
I agree but the verb used is LISTEN not HEAR. With 'yesterday' it is ok to use it with present perfect in this case. But in a positive sentence like I have gone to that place yesterday doesn't make sense.We do not use the present perfect with an adverbial which refers to past time which is finished:
I have seen that film yesterday. [Incorrect]
Monday, January 21, 2013 4:52 PM by layla1234
Did you listen to that mp3? or Have you listened to the mp 3 that I sent you yesterday? Or have you managed to listen to the mp3 I sent you?
Monday, January 21, 2013 7:54 PM by AlpheccaStars
Did you listen to that mp3?Yes, good.Have you listened to the mp 3 that I sent you yesterday?Yes, good.
Have you managed to listen to the mp3 I sent you?Yes, good.
Layla: There is more than one way to ask a question!
Monday, January 21, 2013 8:50 PM by dimsumexpress
Use a more practical example. Obama was making an inaugural address this morning. I can ask you and the question should be "did you listen to his inaugural speech this morning?".Supposed a mother advised her 17 year-old newly licensed daughter numerous times not to use the phone while getting behind the wheel, which was the condition she was allowed to drive. She got into an accident a week later because she ran a red light while her eyes were taken off the road to view a text message. Her mother could say : " I told you many time not to play with the phone while driving. Have you ever listened to me?
The mother used present perfect correctly because the context reached back to the first time she advised her daughter and many times after that. This tense covers the all the mother's advices from different times passed, linking them to the present as she scolded her daughter.
Monday, January 21, 2013 9:08 PM by CalifJim
layla1234Have you listened to that MP3 I sent you yesterday?I would use the one above. To my ear, it is better at giving the impression that you have been expecting the other person to listen to that MP3 and that you are still waiting for them to listen to it if they haven't done so yet.
CJ