Monday, December 9, 2019

meaning in context - Comparative questions with regard to perfect aspect of present tense


Can you please answer my comparative questions below as I am puzzled to use verb "think" with perfect aspect of present tense?


Context is a situation where I've been looking for my wallet for the last couple of minutes and my friend informs me where the wallet is. Just a minute before my friend informs me the same information comes to my mind.


Example 1


My friend: The wallet is on the desk.


Me: I have just thought the same thing.(1)


Example 2


My friend: The wallet is on the desk.


Me: I have thought the same thing.(2)



Example 3


My friend: The wallet is on the desk.


Me: I just thought the same thing.(3)


Example 4


My friend: The wallet is on the desk.


Me: I thought the same thing.(4)


Q1) Can I use (1) present perfect + time adverb just?


Q2) Can't I use (2) present perfect without time adverb just? Similarly we say "I have eaten", "I have finished" etc for the actions in recent past. Are there any differences when it comes to this context ?


Q3) Is (3) same way of saying (1) or is it semantically more related with (4)?


p.s I know there might be more idiomatic ways to answer my friend but I am just examining construction of "to think the same thing"





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