Why Have You Done It Vs Why Did You Do It.

• Home
• Forums New posts Help Rules
• What's new New posts Latest activity
• eBooks
• Donate

Log in Register What's new

• New posts
• Help
• Rules

Menu Log in Register Install the app Install How to install the app on iOS

Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.

Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.

• Forums
• Learning English
• Ask a Teacher

You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. Why have you done it vs Why did you do it.

• Thread starter farhankhan2007
• Start date Apr 27, 2017
• Views : 5,015

Status Not open for further replies. F

farhankhan2007

Junior Member

Joined Dec 22, 2013 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Urdu Home Country India Current Location India Hello All, Need some help in understanding the possible difference between these 2 senteces. 1) Why have you done it? 2) Why did you do it? I mean I am aware that the first one is a present perfect and the later one is simple past. Trying to understand which one would be appropriate to use in the below scenario. Example. Someone closed a deal with a client at some point in the past and now(today) I need to ask him/her why they did that. So which one would be appropriate as far as I understand the 2nd one should be fine. Considering the action was completed in the past. Thanks in advance. Last edited: Apr 27, 2017 G

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)

Joined Dec 22, 2015 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language American English Home Country United States Current Location United States The first is in the present perfect.

Someone closed a deal with a client at some point in the past and now(today) I need to ask him/her why they did that. Click to expand...

You used the right tense in your question to the forum. Use the same one when you ask the client. F

farhankhan2007

Junior Member

Thread starter Joined Dec 22, 2013 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language Urdu Home Country India Current Location India Correction made in reference to present perfect. Just one more question if I may ask? Would this rule be applied to a person who left a place at some point in past during the same day? Can I ask, did he leave? Or shall I ask, has he left? G

GoesStation

No Longer With Us (RIP)

Joined Dec 22, 2015 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language American English Home Country United States Current Location United States

farhankhan2007 said: Correction made in reference to present perfect. Just one more question if I may. [STRIKE]ask?[/STRIKE] Would this rule be applied to a person who left a place at some point in the past during the same day? Can I ask, "did he leave?" Or should [STRIKE]shall[/STRIKE] I ask, "has he left?" Click to expand...

Either is possible. Strictly speaking, with the simple past, you're asking about whether an action took place; with the past perfect, you're asking whether he is no longer present. What the speaker is thinking about may influence the choice. The speaker is more likely to choose the simple past if they're considering the time the other person left, and the present perfect if they're thinking about where the person is.

emsr2d2

Moderator

Staff member Joined Jul 28, 2009 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location UK

farhankhan2007 said: Hello all, I need some help in understanding the possible difference between these 2 sentences. 1) Why have you done it? 2) Why did you do it? I mean I am aware that the first one is [STRIKE]a[/STRIKE] present perfect and the [STRIKE]later[/STRIKE] second one is simple past. I am trying to understand which one would be appropriate to use in the below scenario. [STRIKE]Example.[/STRIKE] Someone closed a deal with a client at some point in the past and now (space required before an opening bracket) (today) I need to ask him/her why they did that. So which one would be appropriate? As [STRIKE]far as[/STRIKE] it, I understand the [STRIKE]2nd[/STRIKE] second one should be fine considering the action was completed in the past. Thanks in advance. Click to expand...

Note my corrections above. Status Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

I really don’t know what I did wrong or what I was or wasn’t supposed <to have done> vs <to do> in that situation.

• Tony_M
• Aug 15, 2025
• Ask a Teacher

Replies 3 Views 557 Aug 16, 2025 jutfrank E

• Locked

I chose a BMW because I'd done/I did

• EngLearner
• Jan 4, 2025
• Ask a Teacher

Replies 0 Views 308 Jan 4, 2025 EngLearner E S

• Locked

So (that) it is done, it doesn't matter who did it.

• sitifan
• May 13, 2024
• Ask a Teacher

Replies 1 Views 646 May 13, 2024 emsr2d2

• Locked

They were celebrating when they did that. / They celebrated after they did that. / They celebrated as soon as they had done that.

• Marika33
• Oct 9, 2023
• Ask a Teacher

Replies 1 Views 786 Oct 9, 2023 jutfrank E

• Locked

Peter and I did/have done some research

• EngLearner
• May 16, 2023
• Ask a Teacher

Replies 3 Views 828 May 16, 2023 EngLearner E Share: Facebook X (Twitter) Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link

Ask a Teacher

If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know:

Ask a Teacher » (Requires Registration)

Share this page

Facebook X (Twitter) Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link

• Forums
• Learning English
• Ask a Teacher

Back Top