Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/14/2020 Posts: 483 Neurons: 2,824
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Hi,
Which of the following sentences is correct?
a. You don't seem surprised at the news. Have you known it already? b. You don't seem surprised at the news. Do you know it already? c. You don't seem surprised at the news. Did you know it already?
I'd appreciate your help.
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/24/2011 Posts: 7,222 Neurons: 1,354,562 Location: London, England, United Kingdom
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The correct sentence is (c), as we wish to refer only to the past (before the news was received just now).
"Have you known it" refers to both the past and the present, and "Do you know it" refers only to the present. (They obviously know it now, because they have just received it!)
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