h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Was that a can of worms I did or have opened yet?

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Um... meeten?

If I was talking to a friend about their day I could say "did you go to the zoo today?" and it would be perfectly correct.


az

This is a fascinating discussion for a foreigner like me. I'Äve never quite understood the concept, but I thought that you use simple past for a finished action in the past? Like: I went to the zoo, not I've gone to the zoo, because I'm no longer going there?

<<"Did you visit the Picasso exhibition?" >>

If my son was visiting London and had returned and his visit was over I could very well ask him - "Did you visit the Tower?"

The time frame is his trip not the continued existence of the Tower.
If I had been long winded I would have said "Whilst you were there (London) did you visit the Tower?"

No ambiguity because it is understood that the time frame is the trip to London.

You can't meaningfully say, "I've gone to the zoo", although you could write it on a piece of paper to leave for someone to read.

As you say, "I've gone..." implies you're still there.

"Where'e Keith?"
"He's gone to the bank" (ie. he's not yet returned)
BUT
"He's been to the bank" implies he's been and returned.


You could say "I've been to the zoo" or "I went to the zoo", but only write "I've gone to the zoo" as a message.

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Yes, that's spot on.

"Did you visit the Picasso exhibition yet?"


In this case, by using 'yet' you're making the time-frame include the present moment, so you need to say:

"Have you visited the Picasso exhibition yet?"

You could say "I've gone to the zoo," if someone called you on your cell phone while you were still there.

I'm Keith!

Oh, you heard my call?

How was the zoo?

Oh', and I definitely prefer 'mobile' over 'cell' and thankfully they're still called that down here. Cell just doesn't sound right, I always think of those phones relatives speak into when visiting their loved ones in prison.

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That's a very good point.
That's probably the one case where it would be OK to SAY (not write), "I've gone to the zoo".

And only since the invention of the telephone has this been so. In every other situation you'd have to say "I've been to the zoo" or "I went to the zoo".

But of course, "I'm at the zoo," would be better

Has Keither a Tralor, of the sort for carting rubbish/gunk about in?; And more importantly may I borrow it for the weekend?

But why pass up the chance to say, "I've gone to the zoo" when it's the only time you can say such a thing when it's both true and grammatically correct?

<<"I'm at the zoo," would be better >>

But why pass up the chance to say, "I've gone to the zoo" when it's the only time you can say such a thing when it's both true and grammatically correct?

It would depend on the question, I suppose. If you were asked, "Where are you?" either would work, but I suppose if you were asked, "Where did you go?", "I've gone to the zoo," would be better, though the other would work too.

Being confusing can be fun--I can't do this when I'm working with my students

Has Keith gone to the zoo then? Will he be back soon I need to find out about this trailer.

From the movie "Funny Bones":

"Have you lived your whole life in this town?"
"Not yet."

P.S. I do write notes for my wife, "(I've) Gone to the store", the only time I use that construction.