hello,
I found the following sentence in Murphy:

My grandfather died 30 years ago. I never MET him.

The key suggests simple past to be the correct choice.
What would be the difference in meaning if I used:

I’VE never MET him.

would it imply (for example) that I was born before he died but I didn’t have a chance to meet him?

please answer
thanx
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matchaj - 25 February 2009 06:23 AM

hello,
I found the following sentence in Murphy:

My grandfather died 30 years ago. I never MET him.

The key suggests simple past to be the correct choice.
What would be the difference in meaning if I used:

I’VE never MET him.

would it imply (for example) that I was born before he died but I didn’t have a chance to meet him?

please answer
thanx
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I never met him.

thank You very much for your reply

but if I consider my lifetime as being an unfished time period can’t I say:

I’ve never met my grandfather. (in my life, in general past; regretefully expressing here the lack of this particular experience; having in mind potencial, possible consequences that meeting could have for my current life, personality etc..)
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matchaj - 25 February 2009 11:14 AM

thank You very much for your reply

but if I consider my lifetime as being an unfished time period can’t I say:

I’ve never met my grandfather. (in my life, in general past; regretefully expressing here the lack of this particular experience; having in mind potencial, possible consequences that meeting could have for my current life, personality etc..)
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I’m not an expert, but as a high school teacher in the past I think the difference is whether or not Grandfather is still living or not.
  Living:  “I have never met him” (implying the possibility could happen in the future).{Your life and his are both unfinished.}
  Deceased: “I never met him” (implying no possibility whatever).

thanx a lot

to continue that highly problematic topic (Present Perfect of course) I’ve got another example and question.
It refers to the theory saying something like - in present perfect sentences expressing lifetime experiences there is an implied, inbuilt information that something can ( or will ) possibly happen in future. For example:
I’ve never been to Spain. (but there is a chance I will go there)
I’ve never watched Alien vs Predator. (but potentialy I can)

what about these examples:

I’ve never met 5 metres tall man.
I’ve never seen a yellow cow.
etc…

is present perfect appropriate in these sentences?
please answer

I would say they are correct because you are saying that while you have never met a 5 metres tall man nor seen a yellow cow, there is always the possibility,
the potential, that you will at some time in the future.  So “I’ve never met…..”, “I’ve never seen…..” would be correct English.

Good luck, however if ever you meet a 5 metres tall man leading a yellow cow.  Have you heard of Babe the Blue Ox?, and whatever the name of the guy was who owned him.
I’ve forgotten, but perhaps someone here will help out.(American Folklore.)

LukeJavan8 - 25 February 2009 03:49 PM

Have you heard of Babe the Blue Ox?, and whatever the name of the guy was who owned him.
I’ve forgotten, but perhaps someone here will help out.(American Folklore.)

Good ol’ Paul Bunyan, the lumberjack.

There you go, many thanks.  I don’t know how tall Paul Bunyon was supposed to be, but he fits the description matchaj mentions, and certainly not a yellow cow, but a blue ox.
Appreciate it much.