viernes, 29 de enero de 2010

question about Carla

page 56 book "All Clear"

Carla ( first line ), says: Finally! I´m so glad you called. Where were you?

They are talking in present, then....why Carla uses the "past simple" called?

Is it a subjuntive tense?
I understand the idea between them, but I dont know the gramatical tense.
Juan.

1 comentario:

  1. NOW she is glad that Dave called (in the PAST, even if it was just a moment ago). Look at it this way: "I'm so glad you have called." Do you understand it better now? In American English, we don't use the present perfect for a recent action in the past. We use the simple past, just like people from the North of Spain use the simple past for a recent action in the past.
    In Spanish, this would be the subjunctive (Me alegro que hayas llamado), but not in English.

    ResponderEliminar