Vraag Wat is de juiste vertaling van Hij is net vertrokken? He has just left of He just left? Antwoord In Brits Engels moet het zijn:: He has just left. Met just in de betekenis van net/zojuist gebruik je de voltooide tijd. In het Amerikaans Engels wordt meestal de verleden tijd gebruikt: I just arrived. In Brits Engels betekent He just left: Hij vertrok gewoon (bijv. zonder iets te zeggen). Nog een paar voorbeelden van just + verleden tijd in Brits Engels: He just went out as if it was a Sunday morning ride. He just went out to work one day and didn't come home. I'll never forgive him for that. Je ziet dat het gebruik van de verleden tijd tot een andere betekenis kan leiden. Bronnen: Core Grammar for Higher Education, p.60 (Noordhoff, 2010): "With just/already/yet British English usually has the present perfect simple. In American English the past simple tense can also be used: She just left." Cobuild English Usage, p.341 (HarperCollins): ”British speakers usually use the present perfect tense with just. For example, they say: I’ve just arrived./ I’ve just sold my car. American speakers usually use the simple past tense: I just arrived.” Practical English, p.307 (Oxford University Press): ”A present perfect is preferred when we are giving news: Where is Eric? He has just gone out. In American English: Where is Eric? He just went out.” Longman English Grammar , p.130 (Longman): "The perfect tense is used when just means "during a very short period before now" : I have just finished reading the paper. In AE: I just saw Selina." |