I have seen a plane.
Here, what is the meaning of the sentence above? I understand the basic meaning of 'have pp'. The sentence above means that I have just seen a plane? Or I have seen a plane before? Or both according to the context?
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This question has been answered many, many times on this site. – Lambie Oct 28 '19 at 15:58
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Oh..I should have checked out first..anyway, feel very very grateful to get answers here – yoonjin kim Oct 28 '19 at 16:02
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A lot of the meaning comes from context - what this is in response to.
In isolation it seems a strange thing to say unprovoked, and might get a response of 'Well, who hasn't?'.
If it is in response to 'What have you seen through the window?' then it has your first meaning - 'just seen'. If it's in response to 'Hey- that's a plane! Did you know that?' then depending on intonation and emphasis it could be a sarcastic or patient reply in your second sense.
So yes, it could mean either depending on context.
simon at rcl
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